Comment: On the consequences of sexual selection for fisheries-induced evolution

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Ecology
• Fisheries Science

Background:

• Nonrandom harvesting, such as fishing, significantly impacts life history traits.
• Recent work explored sexual selection's role in fisheries-induced evolution (FIE).
• A key finding suggested fishing large individuals selects for smaller body size due to sexual selection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-evaluate the role of sexual selection in fisheries-induced evolution (FIE).
• To propose that natural selection may be a more general explanation for size-related evolutionary changes.
• To offer additional perspectives on the complex dynamics of sexual selection in FIE.

Main Methods:

• Re-evaluation of the interpretation of sexual selection's influence on body size and reproductive success.
• Consideration of selection differentials and trait variance.
• Analysis of density-dependent and genetic effects on sexual selection.

Main Results:

• The relationship between body size and reproductive success under fishing pressure may represent natural selection, not solely sexual selection.
• Sexual selection's impact on FIE is likely complex and dynamic.
• The study highlights the need to consider both natural and sexual selection.

Conclusions:

• Fisheries-induced evolution (FIE) is influenced by multiple selective pressures.
• Natural selection may be a significant driver of evolutionary changes in harvested populations.
• Further theoretical and empirical research is needed to fully understand sexual selection's role in FIE.