Evolution in an Urbanizing World
Humans have significantly impacted environmental conditions and landscapes for several decades through our urban expansion. These changes have produced selective pressures different from those present in non-urban areas. In response to these selective pressures, many species have diverged in physical, behavioral, and reproductive traits between their urban and non-urban populations. In addition, urban landscapes are... Continue Reading →
Hurricanes can shape ecosystems, but little is known about how they affect urban populations. This study compared 3 urban and forest sites in Puerto Rico in the months following Hurricane Maria. They found that populations of Anolis cristatellus both increased and decreased in population size after the storm. But populations closest to the point of landfall had the largest consistent population growth throughout the study period.
Urbanization driving changes in plant species and communities – A global view Renata de Barros Ruas, Laís Mara Santana Costa, and Fernanda Bered Abstract The urban landscape is becoming the environment most familiar to most of humanity, which has consequences for society, the environment, and biodiversity. Here, we present a systematic review of current research... Continue Reading →
Coping with novelty across an urban mosaic: Provisioning latency increases closer to roads and is associated with species-specific reproductive success in two urban adapters Michela Corsini, Pietro Leanza, Amanda D. Rodewald, Joanna Sudyka, André A.Dhondt, and Marta Szulkin Abstract Most research on urban avian ecology has focused on population- and community-level phenomena, whereas fewer studies have examined how... Continue Reading →
Anole lizards are rapidly becoming a model for urban adaptation. Anolis cristatellus, or the Puerto Rican crested anole, is a lizard species that has a great affinity for city-living. Previous work has demonstrated shifts in toepad morphology with consequences for locomotion: urban lizards have larger toepads with more specialized sub-digital scales specialized for clinging to smooth surfaces (known... Continue Reading →
There must bee a better way: A review of published urban bee literature and suggested topics for future study Rachel A. Brant, Michael Arduser, Aimee S. Dunlap Abstract Numerous animal species can survive in human-modified habitats, but often display behavioral, morphological, physiological or genetic plasticity compared to non-urban conspecifics. One group of organisms with a... Continue Reading →
Urban rendezvous along the seashore: Ports as Darwinian field‐labs for studying marine evolution in the Anthropocene Fanny Touchard, Alexis Simon, Nicolas Bierne, and Frédérique Viard Abstract Humans have built ports on all the coasts of the world, allowing people to travel, exploit the sea, and develop trade. The proliferation of these artificial habitats and the associated... Continue Reading →
Native Lizards Living in Brazilian Cities: Effects of Developmental Environments on Thermal Sensitivity and Morpho-Functional Associations of Locomotion Nathalia Rossigalli-Costa & Tiana Kohlsdorf Abstract Environmental conditions often affect developmental processes and consequently influence the range of phenotypic variation expressed at population level. Expansion of urban sites poses new challenges for native species, as urbanization usually... Continue Reading →
It Is a Wild World in the City: Urban Wildlife Conservation and Communication in the Age of COVID-19 Ioana A. Coman, Caitlyn E. Cooper-Norris, Scott Longing, and Gad Perry Abstract Most ecosystems are increasingly being degraded and reduced by human activities at the local and global scales. In contrast, urban environments are expanding as increasing... Continue Reading →
Genetic patterns reveal differences between the invasion processes of common ragweed in urban and non-urban ecosystems Siran Lu, Xiangyu Luo, Linwei Han, Jingyi Yang, Jing Jin, & Jun Yang Abstract Invasive alien plant species (IAPS) in urban ecosystems can significantly impact ecosystems and human wellbeing. However, our knowledge on the IAPS in urban ecosystems are limited due... Continue Reading →
The effects of urbanisation on ecological interactions Panagiotis Theodorou Abstract Cities are expanding worldwide and urbanisation is considered a global threat to biodiversity. Urban ecology has provided important insights on how urban environmental changes might affect individuals, populations and species; however, we know little about how the ecological impacts of urbanisation alter species interactions. Species... Continue Reading →
Urban-adapted mammal species have more known pathogens Gregory F. Albery, Colin J. Carlson, Lily E. Cohen, Evan A. Eskew, Rory Gibb, Sadie J. Ryan, Amy R. Sweeny & Daniel J. Becker Abstract The world is rapidly urbanizing, inviting mounting concern that urban environments will experience increased zoonotic disease risk. Urban animals could have more frequent... Continue Reading →
A comprehensive overview of the effects of urbanisation on sexual selection and sexual traits Andrew D. Cronin, Judith A. H. Smit, Matías I. Muñoz, Armand Poirier, Peter A. Moran, Paul Jerem, and Wouter Halfwerk Abstract Urbanisation can affect mating opportunities and thereby alter inter and intra-sexual selection pressures on sexual traits. Biotic and abiotic urban... Continue Reading →
Linking genetic structure, landscape genetics, and species distribution modeling for regional conservation of a threatened freshwater turtle Eric M. McCluskey, Vijay Lulla, William E. Peterman, Kinga M. Stryszowska-Hill, Robert D. Denton, Anthony C. Fries, Tom A. Langen, Glenn Johnson, Stephen W. Mockford & Rusty A. Gonser Abstract Regional conservation efforts should incorporate fine scale landscape... Continue Reading →
As of 2018, 55% of the world’s human population lives in villages, towns, or cities, and this figure grows annually as people increasingly adopt the urban lifestyle. The environmental consequences of this urban expansion are vast: grasslands, forests, and wetlands are replaced by roads, sidewalks, and buildings that make up the residential and commercial infrastructure... Continue Reading →
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