Paper for discussion 12

Human-induced evolution

Bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis. Stockpix.com

Question for tutorial:

What is the impact of humanity on evolutionary processes in nature?

Required reading:

Darimont, C.T, S. M. Carlson, M. T. Kinnison, P. C. Paquet, T. E. Reimchen and C. C. Wilmers. 2009. Human predators outpace other agents of trait change in the wild. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 106: 952-954.

Additional, optional references:

Andersen, K. H. and K. Brander. 2009. Expected rate of fisheries-induced evolution is slow. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 106: 11657-11660.

Coltman, D. W., P. O’Donoghue, J. T. Jorgenson, J. T. Hogg, C. Strobeck and M. Festa-Bianchet. 2003. Undesirable evolutionary consequences of trophy hunting. Nature 426: 655-658.

Hendry AP, T. J. Farrugia and M. T. Kinnison. 2008. Human influences on rates of phenotypic change in wild animal populations. Molecular Ecology 17: 20-29.

Palumbi, S. R. 2001. Humans as the world’s greatest evolutionary force. Science 293: 1786-1790.