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Undesirable evolutionary consequences of trophy hunting

Author

Listed:
  • David W. Coltman

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Paul O'Donoghue

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Jon T. Jorgenson

    (Alberta Department of Sustainable Development, Fish and Wildlife Division)

  • John T. Hogg

    (Montana Conservation Science Institute)

  • Curtis Strobeck

    (University of Alberta)

  • Marco Festa-Bianchet

    (Université de Sherbrooke)

Abstract

Phenotype-based selective harvests, including trophy hunting, can have important implications for sustainable wildlife management if they target heritable traits1,2,3. Here we show that in an evolutionary response to sport hunting of bighorn trophy rams (Ovis canadensis) body weight and horn size have declined significantly over time. We used quantitative genetic analyses, based on a partly genetically reconstructed pedigree from a 30-year study of a wild population in which trophy hunting targeted rams with rapidly growing horns4, to explore the evolutionary response to hunter selection on ram weight and horn size. Both traits were highly heritable, and trophy-harvested rams were of significantly higher genetic ‘breeding value’ for weight and horn size than rams that were not harvested. Rams of high breeding value were also shot at an early age, and thus did not achieve high reproductive success5. Declines in mean breeding values for weight and horn size therefore occurred in response to unrestricted trophy hunting, resulting in the production of smaller-horned, lighter rams, and fewer trophies.

Suggested Citation

  • David W. Coltman & Paul O'Donoghue & Jon T. Jorgenson & John T. Hogg & Curtis Strobeck & Marco Festa-Bianchet, 2003. "Undesirable evolutionary consequences of trophy hunting," Nature, Nature, vol. 426(6967), pages 655-658, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:426:y:2003:i:6967:d:10.1038_nature02177
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02177
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Guttormsen, Atle G. & Kristofersson, Dadi & Nævdal, Eric, 2008. "Optimal management of renewable resources with Darwinian selection induced by harvesting," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 167-179, September.
    2. Jérôme G. Prunier & Mathieu Chevalier & Allan Raffard & Géraldine Loot & Nicolas Poulet & Simon Blanchet, 2023. "Genetic erosion reduces biomass temporal stability in wild fish populations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Emily J. Potratz & Robert D. Holt & Joel S. Brown, 2024. "Ecology of Fear: Acclimation and Adaptations to Hunting by Humans," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-20, January.
    4. Brenna A McLeod & Timothy R Frasier & Zoe Lucas, 2014. "Assessment of the Extirpated Maritimes Walrus Using Morphological and Ancient DNA Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(6), pages 1-14, June.
    5. Meng, Xin-zhu & Zhao, Sheng-nan & Zhang, Wen-yan, 2015. "Adaptive dynamics analysis of a predator–prey model with selective disturbance," Applied Mathematics and Computation, Elsevier, vol. 266(C), pages 946-958.
    6. Javier Pérez-González & Sebastián J. Hidalgo-de-Trucios & Carlos Sánchez-García & Juan Ignacio Rengifo Gallego, 2023. "Women in the Hunt: A More Useful and Sustainable Hunt for Biodiversity?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-9, April.
    7. Guttormsen, Atle G. & Kristofersson, Dadi & Navdal, Eric, 2005. "Managing Genetic Resources for Fun and Profit -- The Role of the Interest Rate in Natural Selection," 2005 Annual meeting, July 24-27, Providence, RI 19354, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    8. Ngorima Patmore, 2017. "Trophy Hunting Anxiety at Sengwa in Retrospect Now and the Future," International Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 4(3), pages 90-93, - August.
    9. Oliver R W Pergams & Joshua J Lawler, 2009. "Recent and Widespread Rapid Morphological Change in Rodents," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(7), pages 1-11, July.

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