Evolution in an Urbanizing World
Danielle Sabin THE BACKGROUND When Splinter discovered four baby turtles in a New York City sewer, he had no idea what the glowing green goo was that covered their bodies. He simply cleaned them off and gave them a home. Shortly thereafter, these turtles grew very rapidly and mutated into anthropomorphic beings with proclivities for... Continue Reading →
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 soar close over my head as I walked my dog. Check out the nictitating membrane... Continue Reading →
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 to humans, these turtles can be more skittish than any bird. I took a picture... Continue Reading →
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 to massive urbanization, which poses high risks for some global biodiversity hotspots and losses of... Continue Reading →
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 elegans) was found on December 9, 2022, at 2:06 pm; it was one of nearly... Continue Reading →
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, some species, such as hedgehogs, are able to adapt and thrive. Six hedgehogs, three males... Continue Reading →
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 Ducks are the largest duck in North America! Despite being such a common sight in... Continue Reading →
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., they are an adaptive radiation), these lizards also have a tendency to adapt on rapid... Continue Reading →
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 between populations living in adjacent but isolated city parks. They developed their study around a... Continue Reading →
Ever notice these long-necked denizens of NYC? Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) are a familiar sight in many parks and open spaces within the city, leading complex lives. New York City boasts 3 of the 7 subspecies of the Canada Goose, and it may come as a shock to know that the one subspecies we observe... Continue Reading →
While huddled up in a nook on my apartment's rooftop, camera set up and aimed at the skies above, I briefly witnessed a skirmish between a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). I was able to document the interaction above my head with the featured image above. I feel so honored... Continue Reading →
One of the last things many people expect to see at 2:13 pm is a rat in a tree! Popular belief holds that rodents are nocturnal, but as we see here with this Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus), they can and will be active during daylight hours. Brought to the United States by European ships, the... Continue Reading →
Be sure to check out today's Urban Evolution talks and posters at SICB! TimeRoomTitleAuthors9:30 - 9:45 AMLonestar BNesting near noise and light-filled nights: The fitness consequences of combined sensory pollutantsPhillips, J.; Jones, T.; Francis, C.9:45 - 10:00 AMLonestar BHow does sensory pollution and urban vegetation affect avian diversity and nesting success?Llamas, A.; Jones, T.; Phillips,... Continue Reading →
Be sure to check out today's Urban Evolution talks and posters at SICB! TimeRoomTitleAuthors9:15 - 9:30 AM402-403Commonalities in the response of North American salamander skin microbiota to wildfires and roadsGomez, O.H.; Mulla, L.; Wuerthner, V.; Hua, J.10:30 - 10:45 AM201-202Coastal invertebrate larvae vary in their responses to artificial light at nightCharpentier, C.; Barnes, D.; Gidzinski,... Continue Reading →
Be sure to check out today's Urban Evolution talks and posters at SICB! TimeRoomTitleAuthors9:00 - 9:15 AMLonestar FHuman-provided food and heterogeneity in aggression in urbanized flocks of American white ibisWeil, J.; Wilson, C.; Hall, R.10:15 - 10:30 AMBrazosTheodolite tracking bottlenose dolphin movement and behavior in a busy Texas ship channelMills, E.; Orbach, D.; Piwetz, S.2:00... Continue Reading →
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