Stabilizing selection on Atlantic cod supergenes through a millennium of extensive exploitation

Life on Earth has been characterized by recurring cycles of ecological stasis and disruption, relating biological eras to geological and climatic transitions through the history of our planet. Due to the increasing degree of ecological abruption caused by human influences many advocate that we now have entered the geological era of the Anthropocene, or the age of man. Considering the ongoing mass extinction and ecosystem reshuffling observed worldwide, a better understanding of the drivers of ecological stasis will be a requisite for identifying routes of intervention and mitigation. Ecosystem stability may rely on one or a few keystone species, and the loss of such species could potentially have detrimental effects. The Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) has historically been highly abundant and is considered a keystone species in ecosystems of the northern Atlantic Ocean. Collapses of cod stocks have been observed on both sides of the Atlantic and reported to have detrimental effects that include vast ecosystem reshuffling. By whole-genome resequencing we demonstrate that stabilizing selection maintains three extensive supergenes in Atlantic cod, linking these genes to species persistence and ecological stasis. Genomic inference of historic effective population sizes shows continued declines for cod in the North Sea-Skagerrak-Kattegat system through the past millennia, consistent with an early onset of the marine Anthropocene through industrialization and commercialization of fisheries throughout the medieval period.

Automated summary

Life on Earth has experienced cycles of ecological stasis and disruption, linking biological and geological transitions. Human influences have caused increasing ecological disruption, leading some to argue that we are now in the Anthropocene era. Understanding the drivers of ecological stasis is crucial for intervention and mitigation. The Atlantic cod, a keystone species in the northern Atlantic Ocean, has experienced collapses and ecosystem reshuffling. Whole-genome resequencing revealed that stabilizing selection maintains three supergenes in Atlantic cod, which are linked to species persistence and ecological stasis. Historic population size inference indicates continued declines due to industrialization and commercialization of fisheries.