Evolution in an Urbanizing World
Coastal cities in Europe are swarmed with gulls, to the annoyance of many of those cities’ inhabitants. Gulls (Larus spp.) are naturally cliff-nesting species, but are able to thrive in urban areas because of the high food availability, the suitable climate, the similarity of nest substrate, lesser risk of predation and the presence of conspecifics... Continue Reading →
In today’s urban environment, the constant presence of traffic noise is undeniable, infiltrating even the most hidden corners of the woods. Previous studies have shown that this anthropogenic noise negatively affects the welfare of both humans and other species. The fact that even unborn organisms experience negative effects is a worrying development, emphasizing the urgent... Continue Reading →
Have you ever seen a duck, goose, coot or any other waterbird laying long out on the ground or surface of the water? Do these birds look tired to you? If so, they might be suffering from botulism.Avian botulism, also known as Limberneck, is the most significant disease for migratory birds around the globe. Outbreaks... Continue Reading →
Urbanization is happening all over the world. Everywhere you look, you can see that cities are expanding and new cities are being built. This is often at the expense of nature. There is not a lot of room for vegetation in cities and more and more existing vegetation and farmlands are being turned into urban... Continue Reading →
It is a common belief that human-modified areas, such as farmlands, support fewer bird species than natural habitats such as forests. However, new research by Zhao et al. (2024) challenges this idea. Their study of bird species diversity on islands off the coast of China has unexpected results that suggest that farmlands might play a... Continue Reading →
Did you know that it has been estimated that the anthropogenic mass, representing all human-made objects, would exceed the living biomass in 2020 ± 6 years? Each year, humans accumulate 30 Gigatons of anthropogenic mass, based on the averages of the last 5 years. The article that made these estimations even mentions that “this corresponds... Continue Reading →
The weather on the northern hemisphere is getting warmer which means beach days are approaching. Every beach dweller can confirm that seagulls (Larus sp.) can be very cunning and cheeky in order to steal food. Is this their ancestral behaviour or has this evolved with the rising of urban areas? Pavlova and Wronski (2020) studied... Continue Reading →
Knotted willows characterise many Dutch landscapes, where they are often seen in a row along creeks that have existed for decades. These willows are pruned every few years, which causes the characteristic wide “knot” at the treetop to form over time. Complex shapes can form due to this pruning, and it is quite common to... Continue Reading →
Our perceptions of wildlife and nature are shaped by the media which highlights. The mold has been set by great figures like David Attenborough, with his memorable narrative voice. However, these documentaries only explored 'pristine' landscapes in far away lands, while ignoring the creatures that must contend with the Urban Jungle. In my first (and... Continue Reading →
Who would ever have expected to see plovers on the banks of the Huangpu River in Shanghai? The Huangpu River is the "mother river" of Shanghai that flows north throughout Shanghai. It passes some of the most population-dense regions of the city, including Lujiazui and the Bund, and provides green paths on both banks for... Continue Reading →
Spotted Lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula) have become an unavoidable nuisance since their arrival in the Big Apple in 2020. These clumsy hemipterans have managed to dominate the urban jungle due to their bright red warning coloration, which is indicative of their bitter tasting chemicals they uptake from their favorite food source, the Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Despite... Continue Reading →
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 of the important factors leading to phenotypic differences between urban and rural bird populations. Comparing... Continue Reading →
Native to the Indian subcontinent and the southern fringes of the Sahel, the ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri) looks wonderfully out of place in the cities of Western Europe. How and when exactly the colourful bird species established itself in isolated pockets so far from its naturally occurring range is heavily disputed, and subject to many... Continue Reading →
Sadly, plastics and litter have become part of the urban and often rural environment. It can be found almost everywhere and in any form – ranging from plastic bags to broken traffic cones. We consider it trash, however, for some birds, it is a jackpot. Often, litter is creatively included during nest building by these... 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 →
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