Mitigating fisheries-induced evolution in lacustrine brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) in southern Quebec, Canada

Okamoto, K.W., Whitlock, R., Magnan, P., & Dieckmann, U. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7089-0393 (2009). Mitigating fisheries-induced evolution in lacustrine brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) in southern Quebec, Canada. Evolutionary Applications 2 (3) 415-437. 10.1111/j.1752-4571.2009.00095.x.

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Abstract

Size-selective mortality caused by fishing can impose strong selection on harvested fish populations, causing evolution in important life-history traits. Understanding and predicting harvest-induced evolutionary change can help maintain sustainable fisheries. We investigate the evolutionary sustainability of alternative management regimes for lacustrine brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) fisheries in southern Canada and aim to optimize these regimes with respect to the competing objectives of maximizing mean annual yield and minimizing evolutionary change in maturation schedules. Using a stochastic simulation model of brook charr populations consuming a dynamic resource, we investigate how harvesting affects brook charr maturation schedules. We show that when approximately 5% to 15% of the brook charr biomass is harvested, yields are high, and harvest- induced evolutionary changes remain small. Intensive harvesting (at approximately >15% of brook charr biomass) results in high average yields and little evolutionary change only when harvesting is restricted to brook charr larger than the size at 50% maturation probability at the age of 2 years. Otherwise, intensive harvesting lowers average yield and causes evolutionary change in the maturation schedule of brook charr. Our results indicate that intermediate harvesting efforts offer a acceptable compromise between avoiding harvest-induced evolutionary change and securing high average yields.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Fisheries-induced adaptive change; Management regimes; Models; Probabilistic maturation reaction norm; Salvelinus fontinalis
Research Programs: Evolution and Ecology (EEP)
Postdoctoral Scholars (PDS)
Bibliographic Reference: Evolutionary Applications; 2(3):415-437 (August 2009)
Depositing User: IIASA Import
Date Deposited: 15 Jan 2016 08:42
Last Modified: 27 Aug 2021 17:20
URI: https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/8826

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