According to this article, "WASHINGTON (Reuters) Hunting and gathering has a profound impact on animals and plants, driving an evolutionary process that makes them become smaller and reproduce earlier, U.S. researchers reported on Monday."
"Their study of hunting, fishing and collecting of 29 different species shows that under human pressure, creatures on average become 20 percent smaller and their reproductive age advances by 25 percent."
Over-harvesting of fish (and other species) results not only in reduced numbers, but smaller survivors....
If you think about this, it appears obvious -- think of trophy hunting -- we're constantly culling the biggest animals.
What does this say about the long-term sustainability of species that we "harvest"?
Posted by Paul at January 12, 2009 04:43 PM