Is Plastic Always Fantastic? Selection on Thermal Plasticity in Urban Anoles

A recent publication in Nature Communications goes above and beyond in studying how selection on adaptive and/or maladaptive gene expression plasticity may be regulating thermal tolerance in urban anoles. The importance of plasticity in the colonization of new environments is a widely-accepted argument, however, the role of plasticity in facilitating adaptive evolution remains controversial. Plasticity... Continue Reading →

December 7, 2021 0

New Lit Abstract: De Novo Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Potential Thermal Adaptation Mechanisms in the Cicada Hyalessa fuscata

De Novo Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Potential Thermal Adaptation Mechanisms in the Cicada Hyalessa fuscata Hoa Quynh Nguyen, Yuseob Kim, and Yikweon Jang Abstract In metropolitan Seoul, populations of the cicada Hyalessa fuscata in hotter urban heat islands (“high UHIs”) exhibit higher thermal tolerance than those in cooler UHIs (“low UHIs”). We hypothesized that heat stress... Continue Reading →

October 21, 2021 0

New Lit Alert: Cryptic eco-evolutionary feedback in the city: urban evolution of prey dampens the effect of urban evolution of the predator

Cryptic eco-evolutionary feedback in the city: urban evolution of prey dampens the effect of urban evolution of the predator Kristien I. Brans, Nedim Tüzün, Arnaud Sentis, Luc De Meester, Robby Stoks Abstract Most research on eco-evolutionary feedbacks focuses on ecological consequences of evolution in a single species. This ignores the fact that evolution in response... Continue Reading →

October 19, 2021 0

Anoles Adapt to Beat the Urban Heat

Urban areas are hot. The urban heat island effect causes urbanized regions to be significantly warmer than nearby forested areas, and the tropical islands of the Caribbean are no exception to this pattern. Just spend a few minutes in the noon heat in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and you will beg for the cool reprieve... Continue Reading →

April 15, 2020 2

Urban Observation of the Week: Chillin’ Frog

It's hot out there! This summer has seen excessive heat waves sweeping the world and breaking records - many places recorded the hottest summer temperatures ever! What does an ectotherm do to chill out in this extreme heat? This frog has found an unusual solution and is our urban observation of the week. https://www.instagram.com/p/B0HrHVlBgHN/?igshid=pb6g3al3s2g Do... Continue Reading →

August 28, 2019 1

City Living in a Nutshell: Urban Ants Acclimate to Higher Temperatures Faster

Evidence for evolution in urban systems is increasing, but a key outstanding question in the field of urban ecology and eco-evolutionary dynamics is whether the ability of individuals to adapt to environmental conditions (plasticity) also evolves and how this process can happen. In a new paper, Sarah Diamond and her collaborators looked to examine the... Continue Reading →

March 18, 2019 1

Invaded Invasives: Do urban lizards have more parasites and how might this influence their ecology?

Anole invasion One of my favorite things about Florida, besides the warm weather, is that it's home to several anole lizards that have invaded from nearby. Some lizards invaders come from Cuba, like the brown anole (Anolis sagrei). Others, like the crested anole (Anolis cristatellus) come from Puerto Rico (like me!). This makes Florida a fascinating... Continue Reading →

February 4, 2019 0

Time for a Dive Part II: Urban Evolution in the Aquatic

Above: (c) Erin Walsh for Journal of Conservation Physiology on the evolution of heat tolerance in Daphnia Earlier this week, I introduced you to the aquatic flea, Daphnia magna, and its habitat in urban environments. I'll pick up where I left off and tell you now about the research I've been doing with these aquatic organisms. After... Continue Reading →

January 25, 2019 0

SICB 2019: What Factors Influence How Ants Cope With High Urban Temperatures?

What consequences does the urban heat island effect have for animals that live in cities? How might increased heat interact with other environmental factors, such as water availability, to affect survival or fitness of animals exposed to these higher temperatures? Dustin Johnson, a masters student in Zach Stahlschmidt’s lab at University of the Pacific chose... Continue Reading →

January 4, 2019 0

Proc. B Special Issue: City Ants Adapt to Hotter Environment

In their recent contribution to the special issue on urban evolution in Proceedings B, Sarah Diamond and team share their exciting results on detecting parallel and non-parallel physiological responses to the urban heat island in acorn ants (paper here). This is the first of several posts to come on the recent special issue on urban evolution... Continue Reading →

October 5, 2018 2

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