The phenotypic correlates of individual vulnerability to angling
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Lebenswissenschaftliche Fakultät
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Abstract
Das Potential evolutionärer Veränderungen von lebensgeschichtlichen Merkmalen durch kommerzielle Fischerei fand in den vergangenen Jahren große Beachtung, wohingegen das evolutionäre Potential selektiver anglerischer Fischentnahme kaum berücksichtigt wurde. Durch intensive Beschreibung individueller Merkmale wie Verhalten, Lebensgeschichte, Morphologie und Physiologie der Fische habe ich die phänotypischen Korrelate der individuellen Angelfangbarkeit entflechtet. Anhand benthivorer und piscivorer Modellarten konnte ich so die Stärke und die Richtung anglerischer Selektion bestimmen. Zudem habe ich die Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit und den Reproduktionserfolg dieser Fische gemessen, um das evolutionäre Potential anglerischer Fischereisterblichkeit abschätzen zu können. Ich konnte zeigen, dass die Risikofreude im Zusammenhang mit der Nahrungsaufnahme bei benthivoren Fischen dem stärksten Selektionsdruck ausgesetzt ist, während bei piscivoren Arten Aggression die bestimmende Eigenschaft war. Zudem waren Risikofreude und Wachstum positiv korreliert. Die intrinsische Fraßaktivität- und Geschwindigkeit erklärte, warum risikofreudige Fische selbst in Gruppen die höchste Hakwahrscheinlichkeit aufwiesen. Diese besonders leicht fangbaren Individuen wurden zudem mit höherer Wahrscheinlichkeit von Räubern in Teichen und in einem 25 ha großen Natursee gefressen, sodass anglerisch induzierte und natürliche Selektion bei juvenilen Fischen in die gleiche Richtung wiesen. Bei adulten, nestbewachenden Fischen konnte ich zudem zeigen, dass Eigenschaften, die zu einer erhöhten Fangbarkeit führen, auch den Laicherfolg steigern, sodass anglerische Selektion negative Auswirkungen auf den Reproduktionserfolg haben kann. Folglich kann bei hohem Fischereidruck ein anglerisch-induziertes Schüchternheitssyndrom entstehen, wodurch die Fangraten von der Fischbestandsdichte entkoppelt werden. Meine Ergebnisse deuten auf eine hohe Schutzwürdigkeit individueller Verhaltensdiversität hin.
The potential for fishing-induced evolution has been intensively discussed in recent years, but most studies have focused on life-history traits that directly or indirectly determine body size in the context of commercial fisheries. Much less is known about potential evolutionary changes in the context of passive angling fisheries. Using comprehensive phenotypic descriptions covering several behavioral, life-history, morphological, and physiological traits, I disentangled the phenotypic correlates of individual vulnerability to angling gear. Using both, benthivorous and piscivorous model species I identified the strength and direction of selection. I then compared survival and reproductive fitness of vulnerable and invulnerable individuals to predict the evolutionary potential of angling-induced selection. My research showed that boldness in the context of foraging is the most important trait under selection in passive fisheries targeting benthivorous species whereas aggression determines selection in piscivorous species. In addition, growth and boldness were positively correlated. Intrinsically high foraging activity- and speed likely explained why explicitly bold fish were caught more often. These highly vulnerable individuals also faced higher natural mortality at the juvenile stage in ponds and within a 25 ha natural lake. Thus, angling-induced selection and natural selection point into the same direction at the juvenile stage. However, using adult, nest-guarding fish, I also showed that angling-induced selection can severely impact reproductive fitness when behavioral patterns that determine fitness also affect vulnerability to angling gear. As a consequence, an exploitation-induced timidity syndrome can be assumed in highly exploited fish stocks leading to increasing shyness and reduced vulnerability of individual fish. My findings call for a promotion of behavioral diversity within natural fish populations.
The potential for fishing-induced evolution has been intensively discussed in recent years, but most studies have focused on life-history traits that directly or indirectly determine body size in the context of commercial fisheries. Much less is known about potential evolutionary changes in the context of passive angling fisheries. Using comprehensive phenotypic descriptions covering several behavioral, life-history, morphological, and physiological traits, I disentangled the phenotypic correlates of individual vulnerability to angling gear. Using both, benthivorous and piscivorous model species I identified the strength and direction of selection. I then compared survival and reproductive fitness of vulnerable and invulnerable individuals to predict the evolutionary potential of angling-induced selection. My research showed that boldness in the context of foraging is the most important trait under selection in passive fisheries targeting benthivorous species whereas aggression determines selection in piscivorous species. In addition, growth and boldness were positively correlated. Intrinsically high foraging activity- and speed likely explained why explicitly bold fish were caught more often. These highly vulnerable individuals also faced higher natural mortality at the juvenile stage in ponds and within a 25 ha natural lake. Thus, angling-induced selection and natural selection point into the same direction at the juvenile stage. However, using adult, nest-guarding fish, I also showed that angling-induced selection can severely impact reproductive fitness when behavioral patterns that determine fitness also affect vulnerability to angling gear. As a consequence, an exploitation-induced timidity syndrome can be assumed in highly exploited fish stocks leading to increasing shyness and reduced vulnerability of individual fish. My findings call for a promotion of behavioral diversity within natural fish populations.
Description
Keywords
Angeln, Fangbarkeit, evolutionäre Veränderung, Wachstum, Verhalten, Selektion, angling, catchability, evolutionary change, growth, behavior, selection
Dewey Decimal Classification
630 Landwirtschaft und verwandte Bereiche
Citation
Klefoth, Thomas Heinfried.(2017). The phenotypic correlates of individual vulnerability to angling. 10.18452/18074