Is this of any practical concern with our worm populations? After all, our worms are sexual beings. I know inbreeding is considered a significant problem in a great number of species. What about our worms?

What with not periodically adding "new blood" to the gene pool of a worm bin -- that can go on in isolation for many generations! Is there any risk of eventually engendering a less robust population in our worm ecosystems?

Like.. Maybe we should at least move a few worms from one bin to another from time to time. Or, purchase worms from a different supplier each time.

I suspect we each can have guesses about this. Does anyone know of what any significant research has had to say about it?

So, the inbreeding causes about a net 15% reduction in reproduction -- that is, net over its outbreeding alternative. I guess that's something we all just live with? I'd be happy to hear what others have to say about this.

I know this is an old thread but I just got here

Is the 15% reduction true or a guess?

If there is a 15% reduction in breeding inbred worms that can be quite significant on a large scale. This would also be simple to address by adding a few from another breeder from time to time.

So,... is it real?