DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Harvest-induced changes in life history traits: insights from the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

研究自然种群对人类干扰的进化反应具有重要的进化意义和保护/管理意义。这项研究的动机是一个有趣的模式观察溪鳟鱼（Salvelinus fontinalis）在南部魁北克湖泊。生活在允许捕鱼的湖泊中的个体比生活在不允许捕鱼的湖泊中的个体成熟得更早，体型更小。本研究试图解释这种模式。它使用数学模型，实地调查和DNA研究的新组合来测试收获引起的进化。这项研究对渔业管理具有实际应用价值。捕捞超过一定大小的鱼的决定，以及捕捞多少个体，取决于渔业能否恢复到原来的状态。如果捕捞造成的成熟时年龄/大小的变化不是遗传性的，那么简单地停止（或至少减少）捕捞就可能使种群恢复。然而，如果变化具有遗传基础，那么就需要采取新的办法来制定渔业政策。研究人员将与政策利益相关者分享他的研究结果，并将开发新的开源计算工具，渔业管理专业人员可以使用这些工具来制定政策，减轻捕捞自然种群的进化影响。

Investigating the evolutionary response of natural populations to human disturbance has important evolutionary implications, as well as conservation/management significance. This research is motivated by an intriguing pattern observed in brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in southern Quebec lakes. Individuals living in lakes where fishing is permitted mature earlier and at smaller sizes than those from lakes without fishing. This research attempts to explain this pattern. It uses a novel combination of mathematical models, field surveys and DNA studies to test for harvest-induced evolution. This research has practical applications for fisheries management. The decision to harvest fish above a certain size, as well as how many individuals to harvest, depends on whether the fishery can recover to its original state. If changes in age/size at maturity caused by harvesting are not genetic, then simply ceasing (or at least reducing) fishing is likely to allow the population to recover. However, if changes have a genetic basis, then a new approach to establishing fishing policies is needed. The researcher will share his findings with policy stakeholders and will develop new, open-source computational tools that fishery management professionals can use to develop policies that mitigate the evolutionary effects of harvesting natural populations.