Humans drive wild animal evolution through activities

Human activities, particularly fishing, are causing wild animals to evolve, with studies showing shrinking sizes in species like Baltic cod. Intense fishing practices have led to the selective removal of larger cod, favoring smaller, slower-growing individuals that could escape nets, resulting in a shift in the cod population's genetic makeup. This evolution is happening rapidly. These findings, published in Science Advances, highlight the significant evolutionary pressures humans exert on wildlife, with hunting and fishing being major drivers of these changes.