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Urban Eastern Red-Backed Salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) and a New Kind of Leaf Litter
Lurking beneath the trash laden leaf litter of the 5 boroughs lurks a secretive little amphibian that exemplifies the struggle between the forces of urbanization and the biological need to adapt or face extinction. The Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)…
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Rats around the rosie: a dance of urbanization and disease
From hantavirus to the plague, rats have long since been reservoirs for a whole host of nasty infectious diseases. They live in our cities and feed off our garbage, sharing with us their fleas, ticks, and pathogens as a thank-you.…
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Urban Observation: Peacock Fly
Although many urban residents are woefully familiar with flies (Order: Diptera), I am willing to bet not many know about the Peacock Fly (Callopistromyia annulipes). A native of North America, this diminutive fly stands out from the rest of its…
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New Lit Alert: Urban environment determines population genetics in the green toad, Bufotes viridis
Urban environment determines population genetics in the green toad, Bufotes viridis Viktória Vargová, Damiána Gužiová, Monika Balogová, Natália Pipová, Marcel Uhrin & Peter Kaňuch Abstract Heavily urbanized areas can hinder dispersal and gene flow between amphibian populations. Given the growth…
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Behavioral Differences Among Individuals of Rural and Urban Shrews
In response to human impact on the environment—from increased light, sound, air, and water pollution, to higher levels of interaction with humans—organisms must adapt to novel conditions in order to survive. One area in which organisms adapt is behavior. von…
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New Lit Alert: Metabolic adjustment in urban birds: glycometabolic enzyme activities in urban and rural tree sparrows (passer montanus)
Metabolic adjustment in urban birds: glycometabolic enzyme activities in urban and rural tree sparrows (passer montanus) J Shang, S Cun, S Zhang, W Liang Abstract Urbanization is rapidly changing habitats of wild birds around the world. Food availability is one…
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New Lit Alert: Variation in Pheidole nodus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) functional morphology across urban parks
Variation in Pheidole nodus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) functional morphology across urban parks Y Luo, QM Wei, C Newman, XQ Huang, XY Luo, ZM Zhou Abstract Background Habitat fragmentation and consequent population isolation in urban areas can impose significant selection pressures on…
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Urban Observation: Groundhogs in Central Park
Have you ever seen a groundhog in Central Park? Or any other urban park? According to @BirdCentralPark, these adorable rodents are not a common sight in Central Park, but there have been known individuals in the northern parts of the…
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