Increasing temperatures counteract the evolutionary consequences of fishing in model of Northeast Arctic Cod (Gadus morhua)

Abstract Fisheries and climate warming are two stressors known to induce evolutionary changes in fish life histories. While their independent effects have been well documented, their interactive effects are less charted, although likely important for sustainable fisheries management and conservation...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Henrik H. Jessen, Anders Frugård Opdal, Katja Enberg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15394-x
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849340191186092032
author Henrik H. Jessen
Anders Frugård Opdal
Katja Enberg
author_facet Henrik H. Jessen
Anders Frugård Opdal
Katja Enberg
author_sort Henrik H. Jessen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Fisheries and climate warming are two stressors known to induce evolutionary changes in fish life histories. While their independent effects have been well documented, their interactive effects are less charted, although likely important for sustainable fisheries management and conservation strategies. We investigated the evolutionary responses of the Northeast Arctic cod stock (Gadus morhua) to warming temperatures and fishing pressure using a mechanistic modeling approach. Our individual-based simulation model incorporates explicit energy and oxygen budgets, and a simplified genetics framework to capture the complex interactions among traits governing energy acquisition/allocation and maturation schedules. Our results provide a theoretical basis for positive consequences for this particular cod stock in a warming climate. Warmer temperatures increased the aerobic scope, which reduced natural mortality. We found that if food availability and temperature are not linked, a warming climate leads to larger population sizes. By selecting for maturation at larger sizes, adaptation to warming climate at least partially counteracts the evolutionary consequences of fishing, namely smaller body sizes and earlier maturation. Our findings emphasize the benefits of adaptive management approaches, considering fish as evolving organisms and integrating ocean warming into fisheries management strategies.
format Article
id doaj-art-ea2e8b277dfd48b5b2f479de38a97a7b
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-ea2e8b277dfd48b5b2f479de38a97a7b2025-08-20T03:43:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-15394-xIncreasing temperatures counteract the evolutionary consequences of fishing in model of Northeast Arctic Cod (Gadus morhua)Henrik H. Jessen0Anders Frugård Opdal1Katja Enberg2Department of Biological Sciences, University of BergenDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of BergenDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of BergenAbstract Fisheries and climate warming are two stressors known to induce evolutionary changes in fish life histories. While their independent effects have been well documented, their interactive effects are less charted, although likely important for sustainable fisheries management and conservation strategies. We investigated the evolutionary responses of the Northeast Arctic cod stock (Gadus morhua) to warming temperatures and fishing pressure using a mechanistic modeling approach. Our individual-based simulation model incorporates explicit energy and oxygen budgets, and a simplified genetics framework to capture the complex interactions among traits governing energy acquisition/allocation and maturation schedules. Our results provide a theoretical basis for positive consequences for this particular cod stock in a warming climate. Warmer temperatures increased the aerobic scope, which reduced natural mortality. We found that if food availability and temperature are not linked, a warming climate leads to larger population sizes. By selecting for maturation at larger sizes, adaptation to warming climate at least partially counteracts the evolutionary consequences of fishing, namely smaller body sizes and earlier maturation. Our findings emphasize the benefits of adaptive management approaches, considering fish as evolving organisms and integrating ocean warming into fisheries management strategies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15394-xEco-evolutionary dynamicsFishing pressureClimateIBM modelling
spellingShingle Henrik H. Jessen
Anders Frugård Opdal
Katja Enberg
Increasing temperatures counteract the evolutionary consequences of fishing in model of Northeast Arctic Cod (Gadus morhua)
Scientific Reports
Eco-evolutionary dynamics
Fishing pressure
Climate
IBM modelling
title Increasing temperatures counteract the evolutionary consequences of fishing in model of Northeast Arctic Cod (Gadus morhua)
title_full Increasing temperatures counteract the evolutionary consequences of fishing in model of Northeast Arctic Cod (Gadus morhua)
title_fullStr Increasing temperatures counteract the evolutionary consequences of fishing in model of Northeast Arctic Cod (Gadus morhua)
title_full_unstemmed Increasing temperatures counteract the evolutionary consequences of fishing in model of Northeast Arctic Cod (Gadus morhua)
title_short Increasing temperatures counteract the evolutionary consequences of fishing in model of Northeast Arctic Cod (Gadus morhua)
title_sort increasing temperatures counteract the evolutionary consequences of fishing in model of northeast arctic cod gadus morhua
topic Eco-evolutionary dynamics
Fishing pressure
Climate
IBM modelling
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15394-x
work_keys_str_mv AT henrikhjessen increasingtemperaturescounteracttheevolutionaryconsequencesoffishinginmodelofnortheastarcticcodgadusmorhua
AT andersfrugardopdal increasingtemperaturescounteracttheevolutionaryconsequencesoffishinginmodelofnortheastarcticcodgadusmorhua
AT katjaenberg increasingtemperaturescounteracttheevolutionaryconsequencesoffishinginmodelofnortheastarcticcodgadusmorhua