Abstract
Recently, there has been growing recognition that fish harvesting practices can have important impacts on the phenotypic distributions and diversity of natural populations through a phenomenon known as fisheries-induced evolution. Here we experimentally show that two common recreational angling techniques (active crank baits versus passive soft plastics) differentially target wild largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) based on variation in their behavioural tendencies. Fish were first angled in the wild using both techniques and then brought back to the laboratory and tested for individual-level differences in common estimates of personality (refuge emergence, flight-initiation-distance, latency-to-recapture and with a net, and general activity) in an in-lake experimental arena. We found that different angling techniques appear to selectively target these species based on their boldness (as characterized by refuge emergence, a standard measure of boldness in fishes) but not other assays of personality. We also observed that body size was independently a significant predictor of personality in both species, though this varied between traits and species. Our results suggest a context-dependency for vulnerability to capture relative to behaviour in these fish species. Ascertaining the selective pressures angling practices exert on natural populations is an important area of fisheries research with significant implications for ecology, evolution, and resource management.
Highlights
In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in research interest directed towards understanding the ecological and evolutionary implications of anthropogenic selection on natural populations [1, 2]
In line with our initial predictions, the fishing lures and techniques associated with our study do appear to selectively target largemouth bass and rock bass based on refuge emergence, a standard measure of assessment for boldness in fish, but this effect is not reflected in a boldness syndrome incorporating other behavioural attributes overall
Activity, and latency-to-recapture were not significantly different between fish captured on the two lure types, latency-to-exit refuge was significantly higher in large fish caught on more natural, passively fished plastic worms than fish caught on actively fished, flashy, noisy hard plastic
Summary
In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in research interest directed towards understanding the ecological and evolutionary implications of anthropogenic selection on natural populations [1, 2]. Some studies have suggested that individual-level behavioural characteristics as represented by an animal’s ‘personality’ or ‘behavioural type’ [10, 11], can be more indicative of an animal’s likelihood of capture/harvest than traditionally thought of morphological attributes alone [7, 12]. In this context, behavioural type refers to individuals who maintain consistent differences in their rank-order of behaviour for a particular attribute (e.g. aggression) despite environmental changes [11, 13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
