A1 Journal article (refereed)
Size‐selective harvesting drives genomic shifts in a harvested population (2024)

Sadler, D. E., Sävilammi, T., van Dijk, S. N., Watts, P. C., & Uusi‐Heikkilä, S. (2024). Size‐selective harvesting drives genomic shifts in a harvested population. Journal of Fish Biology, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15901

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Sadler, Daniel E.; Sävilammi, Tiina; van Dijk, Stephan N.; Watts, Phillip C.; Uusi‐Heikkilä, Silva

Journal or series: Journal of Fish Biology

ISSN: 0022-1112

eISSN: 1095-8649

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 08/08/2024

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Wiley

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15901

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/96748

Abstract

Overfishing not only drastically reduces the number of fish in an exploited population but is also often selective for body size by removing the largest individuals from a population. Here, we study experimentally the evolutionary effects of size-selective harvesting using whole-genome sequencing on a model organism, the zebrafish (Danio rerio). We demonstrate genomic shifts in the populations exposed to size-selective harvesting for five generations and show reduced genetic diversity in all harvested lines, including the control line (non-size-selected). We also determine differences in groups of genes related to certain gene ontology annotations between size-selectively harvested lines, with enrichment in nervous system related genes in the large-selected lines. Our results illuminate the biological processes underlying fisheries-induced genetic changes and hence contribute toward the understanding of the changes potentially associated with the vulnerability of an exploited population to future stressors.

Keywords: fish populations; overfishing; genetic polymorphism; population genetics; genomics; evolutionary biology

Free keywords: fisheries-induced evolution; genetic variation; population genomics; size-selection; whole-genome sequencing

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1