Data from: Harvest-induced phenotypic selection in an island population of moose, Alces alces

Empirical evidence strongly indicates that human exploitation has frequently led to rapid evolutionary changes in wild populations, yet the mechanisms involved are often poorly understood. Here we applied a recently developed demographic framework for analysing selection to data from a 20-year study of a wild population of moose, Alces alces. In this population, a genetic pedigree has been established all the way back to founders. We demonstrate harvest-induced directional selection for delayed birth dates in males and reduced body mass as calf in females. During the study period, birth date was delayed by 0.81 days per year for both sexes, while no significant changes occurred in calf body mass. Quantitative genetic analyses indicated that both traits harboured significant additive genetic variance. These results show that selective harvesting can induce strong selection which oppose natural selection. This may cause evolution of less favourable phenotypes that become maladaptive once harvesting ceases.

大量实证证据表明，人类开发活动常导致野生种群发生快速演化，但相关作用机制往往仍未得到充分阐释。本研究将新近开发的选择分析种群统计框架，应用于一项针对野生驼鹿（Alces alces）种群的20年研究数据集。该种群已构建起可追溯至奠基个体的完整遗传谱系。本研究证实，狩猎诱导了定向选择：雄性个体的出生日期延后，雌性幼崽的体重降低。在研究周期内，雌雄个体的出生日期均以每年0.81天的速率延后，但幼崽体重未出现显著变化。数量遗传学分析显示，这两个性状均存在显著的加性遗传方差。上述结果表明，选择性狩猎可诱导出与自然选择相悖的强选择压力，这可能促使种群演化出较不利的表型——此类表型在狩猎停止后将变为适应不良的性状。