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 potential of urbanization, it is important to examine how this specific environment shapes their genetic... Continue Reading →
New Lit Alert: Growing up in a new world: trait divergence between rural, urban, and invasive populations of an amphibian urban invader
Growing up in a new world: trait divergence between rural, urban, and invasive populations of an amphibian urban invader Max Mühlenhaupt, James Baxter-Gilbert, Buyisile G. Makhubo, Julia L. Riley, John Measey Abstract Cities are focal points of introduction for invasive species. Urban evolution might facilitate the success of invasive species in recipient urban habitats. Here... Continue Reading →
New Lit Alert: Fine scale genetic structure in fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) along a rural‑to‑urban gradient
Fine scale genetic structure in fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) along a rural‑to‑urban gradient G. Yannic, V. Helfer, R. Sermier, B. R. Schmidt, L. Fumagalli Abstract Delineating population boundaries in anthropogenic landscape is of critical importance for domains of biology that are concerned with the ecology, evolution and conservation of species. This remains particularly difficult for species where there is... Continue Reading →
Urban Observation of the Week: Scaling Salamander
Amphibians can be really great "indicator species" that, if they are present and healthy, then the ecosystem is doing ok. Some amphibians though are really great generalists and can tolerate a range of ecosystem changes. This week, we see a two-lined salamander chomping on the bugs that the porch lights attract. Do you have a... Continue Reading →
Evolution 2019: Do Frogs Respond Eco-Evolutionarily to the Chernobyl Incident?
Posts here on Life in the City have covered the gamut of impacts of urbanization: the urban heat island, habitat fragmentation, artificial structures, changes in species interactions, and more. One aspect of anthropogenic change we haven’t yet considered is alterations to radioecology, or the ecology of how radioactive compounds affect organisms and the environment. While... Continue Reading →