Open AccessThe impact of fishing‐induced mortality on the evolution of alternative life‐history tactics in brook charr
Author(s) -
Thériault Véronique,
Dunlop Erin S.,
Dieckmann Ulf,
Bernatchez Louis,
Dodson Julian J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
evolutionary applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 68
ISSN - 1752-4571
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-4571.2008.00022.x
Subject(s) - fish migration , biology , fishing , salvelinus , life history theory , ecology , population , phenotypic plasticity , environmental change , life history , evolutionary biology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , demography , climate change , trout , sociology
Although contemporary trends indicative of evolutionary change have been detected in the life‐history traits of exploited populations, it is not known to what extent fishing influences the evolution of alternative life‐history tactics in migratory species such as salmonids. Here, we build a model to predict the evolution of anadromy and residency in an exploited population of brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis . Our model allows for both phenotypic plasticity and genetic change in the age and size at migration by including migration reaction norms. Using this model, we predict that fishing of anadromous individuals over the course of 100 years causes evolution in the migration reaction norm, resulting in a decrease in average probabilities of migration with increasing harvest rate. Moreover, we show that differences in natural mortalities in freshwater greatly influence the magnitude and rate of evolutionary change. The fishing‐induced changes in migration predicted by our model alter population abundances and reproductive output and should be accounted for in the sustainable management of salmonids.