Evolution in an Urbanizing World
As urbanization continues to reshape landscapes, its effects on wildlife have become a subject of growing concern. In the unique context of Cuba, a recent study focused on an endemic lizard species, Anolis homolechis, found in both natural and suburban environments. This in-depth study relied on adapted tracking methods deployed over several years and explored... Continue Reading →
Natural and anthropogenic landscape factors shape functional connectivity of an ecological specialist in urban Southern California Sarah M. Wenner, Melanie A. Murphy, Kathleen S. Delaney, Gregory B. Pauly, Jonathan Q. Richmond, Robert N. Fisher, Jeanne M. Robertson Abstract Identifying how natural (i.e., unaltered by human activity) and anthropogenic landscape variables influence contemporary functional connectivity in... Continue Reading →
Rock Refuges Are Strongly Associated with Increased Urban Occupancy in the Western Fence Lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis Alexander J. Rurik, Seth C. Wilmoth, Kendra E. Dayton and Amanda M. Sparkman Abstract Urbanization has dramatically altered habitats for local species worldwide. While some species are unable to meet the challenges that these alterations bring, others are able to... 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.
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 →
Niche lability mitigates the impact of invasion but not urbanization Borden, J. B., Bohlman, S., & Scheffers, B. R. Abstract Native species can coexist with invasive congeners by partitioning niche space; however, impacts from invasive species often occur alongside other disturbances. Native species’ responses to the interactions of multiple disturbances remain poorly understood. Here we... Continue Reading →
This new feature on the blog will focus on urban introduced species across the globe, giving brief histories of where they came from, how they got where they are now & more on their ecology and evolution. The Gold Dust Day Gecko Phelsuma laticauda Best known for the starring role as the “Geico” gecko, the... Continue Reading →
Making the best of a difficult year With a group of other students here at Ohio Wesleyan University, I had successfully written a grant to research the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) in the south of France for the summer of 2020. Like so many plans that year, this trip was canceled. While the streets... Continue Reading →
Moving to the city: testing the implications of morphological shifts on locomotor performance in introduced urban lizards Princeton L Vaughn, Wyatt Mcqueen, Eric J Gangloff Abstract Understanding how morphology affects performance in novel environments and how populations shift their morphology in response to environmental selective pressures is necessary to understand how invaders can be successful.... Continue Reading →
Morphological divergence, tail loss, and predation risk in urban lizards Shashank Balakrishna, Madhura Sham Amdekar & Maria Thaker Abstract Urbanisation changes the structure of natural habitats and alters trophic interactions, pressuring urban species to adjust and adapt. Unlike behavioural shifts that tend to be more flexible, morphological characteristics in vertebrates are less plastic and changes may come... Continue Reading →
In August 2020, I recently published my first first-author paper about urban Anolis lizard claws! I have previously written about my research after doing field work and presenting at my university's science symposium. I'm excited to report that the results are finally out! In our paper, The Finer Points of Urban Adaptation, myself and my coauthors (Kevin... Continue Reading →
Lizards are becoming increasingly common in urban areas. They are able to forage longer than usual because of the urban heat island effect. Today's observation is a lizard still out and about, back in late October, when they should have already wrapped up the season! Do you have a photo or video of an urban... Continue Reading →
As some of you may know by now, one of our co-editors/founders of this blog, Kristin Winchell, researches anoles adapting to urban areas. So of course we get excited to see anoles caught on camera in urban areas. This week's observation is a green anole on campus at Loyola University in New Orleans, captured by... Continue Reading →
Yesterday we shared some new research with you about the effects of light at night (ALAN) on anoles, featuring new research by contributor Chris Thawley. Today, we stick with that theme of activity at night and the night-light niche. In January (before I knew my fieldwork would be postponed indefinitely), I headed to the beautiful... Continue Reading →
The decisions that a parent makes or conditions that a parent experiences can influence the survival and fitness of their offspring. These transgenerational effects, in which impacts of the environment on one generation impact subsequent generations, are widespread and can originate with both mothers and fathers. In organisms that make eggs, the environments mothers experience... Continue Reading →
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