Harvest-induced evolution: insights from aquatic and terrestrial systems

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Ecology
• Fisheries and Wildlife Management

Background:

• Harvesting (fishing, hunting) imposes selection pressures on genetically controlled traits.
• These pressures can lead to evolutionary changes in harvested populations.
• Quantifying harvest-induced evolution is complex due to confounding factors like plasticity and environmental change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize current knowledge on harvest-induced evolution.
• To address key uncertainties regarding its occurrence, benefits, impacts, avoidance, and management.
• To review evidence from both aquatic (fishing) and terrestrial (hunting) systems.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing findings on harvest-induced evolution.
• Analysis of evidence from aquatic and terrestrial systems.
• Discussion of six key points: occurrence, benefits, impacts, avoidance, relative importance, and management.

Main Results:

• Harvest-induced evolution is occurring in targeted populations.
• Observed changes include altered age/size at maturity (aquatic) and weapon size/parturition timing (terrestrial).
• Evolutionary changes are likely detrimental to populations.

Conclusions:

• Harvest-induced evolution is a significant consequence of human exploitation.
• Reducing harvest intensity is an effective strategy for managing these evolutionary effects.
• Explicit consideration of harvest-induced evolution in management is recommended.