title: Harvest-induced phenotypic selection in an island population of moose, Alces alces.
abstract: 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 analyzing 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, whereas no significant changes occurred in calf body mass. Quantitative genetic analyses indicated that both traits harbored significant additive genetic variance. These results show that selective harvesting can induce strong selection that oppose natural selection. This may cause evolution of less favorable phenotypes that become maladaptive once harvesting ceases.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway. thomas.kvalnes@ntnu.no.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kvalnes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Bernt-Erik
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Saether
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, NO-1361 Østerås, Norway.
authors.forename: Hallvard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haanes
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO-8146 Dep, NO-0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Knut H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Røed
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Mathematical Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Steinar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Engen
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Erling J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Solberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001835:Body Weight; D003670:Deer / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D056084:Genetic Fitness; D062312:Islands; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D010641:Phenotype; D012098:Reproduction; D012621:Seasons; D012641:Selection, Genetic
keywords: Age structure; animal model; microevolution; reproductive value; ungulate