A1 Journal article (refereed)
Atlantic cod recovery from the Allee effect zone : contrasting ecological and evolutionary rescue (2020)

Kuparinen, A., & Uusi-Heikkilä, S. (2020). Atlantic cod recovery from the Allee effect zone : contrasting ecological and evolutionary rescue. Fish and Fisheries, 21(5), 916-926. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12470

JYU authors or editors

Kuparinen, Anna
Uusi-Heikkilä, Silva

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kuparinen, Anna; Uusi-Heikkilä, Silva

Journal or series: Fish and Fisheries

ISSN: 1467-2960

eISSN: 1467-2979

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 21

Issue number: 5

Pages range: 916-926

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12470

Research data link: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dbrv15dx2

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/70413

Abstract

The ability of a population to recover from disturbances is fundamental for its persistence. Impaired population recovery might be associated with a demographic Allee effect. Immigration from adjacent populations could accelerate the recovery not only by promoting population growth beyond the Allee effect threshold but also by bringing in advantageous genotypes. We explore the nature and role of ecological and evolutionary rescue in an Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua Gadidae) population fished below its Allee effect threshold. We utilize an eco-evolutionary model and simulate scenarios, where the target population evolves in response to selective fishing and sample immigrants from (a) a source population similarly adapted to fishing (post-fishing genotypes) or (b) an unexploited source population with natural genetic and phenotypic diversity (pre-fishing genotypes). Immigration of pre-fishing genotypes enhances the recovery due to the larger body sizes and the flow of associated genes. Post-fishing immigrants can also promote the population abundance recovery, but they increase uncertainty about recovery times as compared to pre-fishing immigrants and do not promote evolutionary recovery. Our results stress the importance of maintaining genetic and phenotypic diversity and suggest that marine protected areas can serve as an important source of immigrants to promote both the demographic and evolutionary recovery of exploited populations.

Keywords: fish populations; populations; population dynamics; intensive fishing; population ecology; adaptation (change); resilience; Atlantic cod