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(Sub) Urban Observations: Turkey Vulture
Check out this Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) soaring over the suburban streets of Texas! These birds are usually seen in more rural environments, such as farmlands or long stretches of road, but I was pleasantly surprised to have this bird…
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(Sub) Urban Observations: Red-eared Slider
Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) are normally seen in many urban areas as a consequence of the pet trade. They are native to the Southeastern United States, and as such, they are quite prevalent in Texas suburbs. Despite their closeness…
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New Lit Alert: Influence of habitat type and distance from source area on bird taxonomic and functional diversity in a Neotropical megacity
Influence of habitat type and distance from source area on bird taxonomic and functional diversity in a Neotropical megacity Marcos Antônio Melo, Patrícia Mara Sanches, Demóstenes F. Silva Filho & Augusto João Piratelli Abstract The Neotropical region has been subjected…
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Urban Observation: Winter Neighbors 2: Red-eared Slider
As this tepid winter sweeps through NYC, a few careful eyes may spot a peculiar sight lounging in the mid-afternoon sun of our urban park spaces. Turtles, out and about in the middle of December! This Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta…
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New Lit Alert: The effect of sex on home range in an urban population of European hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus at the southern edge of the species distribution
The effect of sex on home range in an urban population of European hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus at the southern edge of the species distribution Jana Marco-Tresserras & Germán M. López Iborra Abstract As the transformation of natural habitats into urban environments increases,…
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(Sub)Urban Observation: Feral Muscovy Ducks
When I returned to my hometown suburb in Texas, I was greeted by the familiar sight of Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata) hanging out in and around the numerous constructed wetlands that keep my suburb from going underwater. Notably, male Muscovy…
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Parallel Urban Adaptation from Phenotype to Genotype in Anolis Lizards
Anolis lizards (known as anoles) are models for studying evolution in the wild. Not only do anoles have a history of repeatedly diversifying to specialize in the same types of microhabitats in the same ways across the Greater Antilles (i.e.,…
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Rapid Evolution of Urban Water Dragons
The growing field of urban evolutionary ecology studies the impact of urbanization on its resident species. Often, that involves comparisons between conspecific urban and non-urban populations. Jackson et al. took a different perspective in this study. They analyzed the divergence…
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