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Evolutionary Change in Human-altered Environments

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Molecular Ecology (2007) doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03607.x© 2007 The AuthorsJournal compilation © 2007 Blackwell Publishing LtdBlackwell Publishing LtdPREFACE TO THE SPECIAL ISSUEEvolutionary change in human-altered environmentsTHOMAS B. SMITH*† and LOUIS BERNATCHEZ‡*Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment, University of California, Los Angeles, 619 Charles E. Young Dr East, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1496, USA, †Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Dr South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA, ‡Département de Biologie, Pavillon Charles-Eugène Marchand, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada G1K 7P4The average annual rate of loss for animal and plantpopulations and their habitats is estimated to be 1%(Balmford et al. 2003), with two-thirds of the world’sterrestrial land area now devoted directly to supportinghuman populations, either through agriculture, fisheries,urbanization, or infrastructure (Millenium EcosystemAssessment 2005). As a consequence of these impacts, weare witnessing a global, but unplanned, evolutionaryexperiment with the biotic diversity of the planet. Growingempirical evidence indicates that human-induced evolu-tionary changes impact every corner of the globe. Suchchanges are occurring rapidly, even at the level of a humanlifespan, bear huge economical costs and pose seriousthreats to both humans and the biodiversity of the planet.Evolutionary phenomena, such as industrial melanism inthe peppered moth (Biston betularia) — a classical exampleof rapid evolution driven by humans (Kettlewell 1973) onceconsidered atypical — are now becoming commonplace.There have been several recent efforts to summarize theseeffects. Palumbi (2001) revived interest in the study ofhuman-driven evolutionary change by synthesizing evidencefor the consequences of antibiotic and antiviral use, insec-ticide applications, and herbicide bioengineering on theevolution of short-lived organisms such as weedy plantsand microbes. In a recent colloquium, Myers et al. (2000)helped to focus attention on the future of evolution and thisemerging biotic crisis. Numerous other studies are docu-menting human-driven ‘contemporary evolution’ (sensuHendry & Kinnison 1999, reviewed in Stockwell et al. 2003).Still earlier studies demonstrated that exposures to heavymetals led to evolutionary change of resistance in plantsliving in contaminated sites (Wu & Kruckeberg 1985), andthat the extinction of competitors and subsequent shifts infeeding habits could cause evolutionary changes of beakmorphology in birds (Smith et al. 1995). Studies haveshown how global warming is having evolutionary effectson natural populations (Parmesan 2006), such as a geneticshift in photoperiodic response (Bradshaw & Holzapfel2001). Others document shifts in the genetic basis of growthpotential in exploited fishes as a result of size-selectivefishing (Conover & Munch 2002) and how invasive speciescan rapidly and repeatedly adapt to newly colonizedenvironments (Lee 1999) or potentially drive extinction ofnative species by hybridization (Rhymer & Simberloff 1996).There is little doubt that human activities are altering theevolutionary processes on which all life depends. Thesechanges threaten our natural heritage and economic well-being by eliminating options to adapt to future environments.Yet, evolution has been given low priority in most resourcemanagement programs, academic as well as applied (Myerset al. 2000). Reasons for this include the mistaken view thatspecies are relatively fixed entities that remain unchangedover conservation-relevant periods of time. While resourcemanagers have largely focused on threats causing populationdeclines and extinction, little attention is being paid to theconsequences of changing the evolutionary trajectories ofspecies that persist in human-altered environments. Admit-tedly, evolutionary biologists share the blame for neglectingto bring these issues to the attention of resource managersand policy makers. Indeed, there are few effective bridgesbetween academia, where evolutionary research is conducted,and institutions responsible for conservation decision-making. While assessing and predicting how humans arealtering evolution and its effects represents a tremendousscientific challenge, the enormity of the threats posed byhumans to the planet requires that research findings beintegrated into conservation planning and public policy assoon as possible. In particular, it is essential that we builda better information bridge between academic researchersand conservation practitioners if we are to have any hopeof understating and mitigating the deleterious effects ofhuman activities on evolutionary processes or, alternatively,turning the potential of species to adapt to a changingworld to the benefit of improved conservation practices.In response to this developing crisis, the Institute of theEnvironment at the University of California, Los Angeles(UCLA), hosted a summit in February 2007 entitled‘Evolutionary Change in Human-altered Environments:Correspondence: Thomas B. Smith, Fax: (310) 825 5446; E-mail:[email protected] PREFACE© 2007 The AuthorsJournal compilation © 2007 Blackwell Publishing LtdAn International Summit to Translate Science into Policy’.The meeting was co-organized by Thomas Smith (UCLA,USA) and Louis Bernatchez (Université Laval, Québec,Canada), and convened evolutionary biologists, conserva-tion practitioners, and policy makers to synthesize currentknowledge and begin to develop plans for incorporatingsuch knowledge into conservation and management policy(see http://www.ioe.ucla.edu/CTR/ioesymposium.html).This included talks by more than 40 prominent evolutionarybiologists, and numerous presentations by leading conser-vation policy makers and discussions. The presentationswere organized around three main themes: (i) habitat dis-turbance and climate change, (ii) exploitation and captivebreeding, and (iii) invasive species and pathogens. Eachwas followed by a working session comprised of scientistsand policy makers to discuss how research results could beused to inform and drive policy. The final day of the summitwas devoted to reports from the working sessions andsynthesis, and was chaired by leading policy and conserva-tion decision makers with the goal of identifying ways thatevolutionary science can be integrated into conservationpolicy, planning practices, and


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