Evolution in an Urbanizing World
Parallel, urban-driven phenotypic changes There is increasing evidence that, for a given species, individuals inhabiting cities often differ from their counterparts outside of cities. Such differences may result from individuals suffering from environmental conditions in cities. For instance, my colleague Michela Corsini showed that, in the great tit (Parus major) and the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus),... Continue Reading →
Does melanin-based plumage coloration reflect health status of free-living birds in urban environments? Hani Amir Aouissi, Mostefa Ababsa, Aissam Gaagai, Zihad Bouslama, Yassine Farhi, and Haroun Chenchouni Abstract Background: Ecological functions and processes in urban ecosystems are governed by various human activities. City-adapted and city-exploiting animal species are expected to present certain specific behavioral and physiological... Continue Reading →
Invasion success and tolerance to urbanization in birds César González-Lagos, Laura Cardador and Daniel Sol Abstract Cities are considered hotspots of biological invasions, yet it remains unclear why non-indigenous species are so successful in environments that most local native species do not tolerate. Here, we explore the intriguing possibility that humans may be unintentionally introducing... Continue Reading →
Monk parakeets Myiopsitta monachus Sometimes referred to as the Quaker parrot due to their quaking vocalizations, the monk parakeet is a small, green parrot with grey breast and head feathers accented with blue feathers on their primaries. In addition to their unique color, these birds can often be picked out by their noisy/screechy vocalizations.... Continue Reading →
Cities, defined as large human settlements of the contemporary human population, have been part of the “Old World” landscape for long time, including Europe. However, the current exponential increase of the urbanised landscape is an unprecedented phenomenon, which has an impact at multiple ecological scales. Urbanisation and its derived actions can fragment wildlife populations and... Continue Reading →
There have been multiple sightings of these two turkeys in my neighborhood. I was trying to get home and these two just stayed in the middle of the street, blocking my way. These turkeys are HUGE and have zero fear of my car! Do you have a photo or video of an urban species doing... Continue Reading →
What makes a bird successful in the city? Jakob Mueller and colleagues first attempted to answer this question in blackbirds, finding genomic signatures of selection in the SERT gene associated with harm avoidance. Now, building on only a handful of studies to explore the genomic basis of urban adaptive responses, Mueller and colleagues tackle this... Continue Reading →
Urban birders strike again! This week we bring a pair of house sparrows at a field station in Louisiana catching food for their young. Do you have a photo or video of an urban species doing something unusual? What about a rare plant or animal that you were surprised to find in a city?... Continue Reading →
The Galápagos Islands are renowned for their unique, endemic biodiversity which inspired Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution by natural selection. In particular, Darwin’s finches are an iconic example of adaptive radiation due to natural selection, where ~18 species have evolved from a single, common ancestor. Adaptive radiations can occur when exploitation of... Continue Reading →
As areas become more urbanized, fauna are continually exposed to novel anthropogenic structures and are forced to adapt. However, adapting is not always an option. For example, we see that individuals across various groups have not adapted to roads and train tracks (e.g., deer, bears, birds) and the outcome is fatal. Instead of creating barriers... Continue Reading →
Life in the city is stressful, for humans and wildlife! One of the main physiological traits thought to be impacted by the novel pressures of urban life, such as noise and light pollution, is stress hormone concentration. Nevertheless, no patterns have emerged across species. Allison Injaian and co-authors fill this gap in knowledge with their... Continue Reading →
Cat TV is a great way to keep your feline friend entertained. What is cat TV? It is a window that your cat can look out and watch the local flora and fauna. Cats in high rise buildings rarely get to see birds up close, but this one got a special treat. A woodpecker flew... Continue Reading →
Now that we are still in pandemic mode, more organisms that we might not normally see in urban areas are popping up on our social distanced walks. Here we see a flock of turkey vultures in Erindale Park, hanging out near the recycling bins. You'll want to practice more than the 6 feet of social... Continue Reading →
In some communities people will feed the local birds, ensuring that they will have a great view of these birds. Oftentimes, pigeons will locate these feeding spots and aggregate. In this neighborhood in downtown Toronto, one person purposefully leaves food for the pigeons. Although feeding wildlife is not advisable and can lead to unintended consequences... Continue Reading →
As winter is finally ending and warmer weather is on the way, we bring you one more winter observation. Many birds fly south for the winter, but some stick around and brave the cold. This owl is one of those birds that stayed in the city during the winter months. https://twitter.com/ABBestphotos/status/1226710932547502080?s=20 Do you have a... Continue Reading →
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