Abstract
Harvesting wild animals may exert size-independent selection pressures on a range of morphological, life history, and behavioral traits. Most work so far has focused on selection pressures on life history traits and body size as morphological trait. We studied here how recreational fishing selects for morphological traits related to body shape, which may correlate with underlying swimming behavior. Using landmark-based geometric morphometrics, we found consistent recreational fishing-induced selection pressures on body shape in two recreationally exploited marine fish species. We show that individuals with larger-sized mouths and more streamlined and elongated bodies were more vulnerable to passively operated hook-and-line fishing independent of the individual's body size or condition. While the greater vulnerability of individuals with larger mouth gapes can be explained by the direct physical interaction with hooks, selection against streamlined and elongated individuals could either involve a specific foraging mode or relate to underlying elevated swimming behavior. Harvesting using passive gear is common around the globe, and thus, size-independent selection on body shape is expected to be widespread potentially leaving behind individuals with smaller oral gapes and more compact bodies. This might have repercussions for food webs by altering foraging and predation.
Highlights
Hunters and fishers nonrandomly harvest animals based on the traits they carry, which results in phenotypic and potentially genetic changes (Allendorf and Hard 2009)
We studied here how recreational fishing selects for morphological traits related to body shape, which may correlate with underlying swimming behavior
We found consistent empirical evidence across two exploited coastal fish species that recreational fishing is not a random mortality process in relation to body shape, while controlling for body size and condition variation
Summary
Hunters and fishers nonrandomly harvest animals based on the traits they carry, which results in phenotypic and potentially genetic changes (Allendorf and Hard 2009). The consequences of fisheries-induced direct or indirect selection on behavioral traits are less understood, but it may be relevant under certain situations (Heino and Godø 2002; Uusi-Heikkil€a et al 2008). Changes in life history traits like boldness may emerge from direct selection on behavioral traits in some species (Biro and Post 2008; Uusi-Heikkil€a et al 2008; Alos et al in press). Due to the often higher heritability of morphological traits compared to life history or behavioral traits (Mousseau and Roff 1987), selection on body shape may lead to rapid evolution of low-vulnerability morphotypes in response to fishing-induced selection (Heino and Godø 2002)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
