Evolution in Cities

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 52(1), P. 519 - 540

Published: Aug. 31, 2021

Although research performed in cities will not uncover new evolutionary mechanisms, it could provide unprecedented opportunities to examine the interplay of forces ways and avenues address classic questions. However, while variation within among affords many advance biology research, careful alignment between how are used questions being asked is necessary maximize insights that can be gained. In this review, we develop a framework help guide urban evolution approaches Using framework, highlight what has been accomplished date field identify several up-and-coming directions for further expansion. We conclude environments as test beds tackle both long-standing biology.

Language: Английский

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Downtown diet: a global meta-analysis of increased urbanization on the diets of vertebrate predators

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1970)

Published: March 2, 2022

Predation is a fundamental ecological process that shapes communities and drives evolutionary dynamics. As the world rapidly urbanizes, it critical to understand how human perturbations alter predation meat consumption across taxa. We conducted meta-analysis quantify effects of urban environments on three components trophic ecology in predators: dietary species richness, evenness stable isotopic ratios (IRs) ( δ 13 C 15 N IR). evaluated whether intensity anthropogenic pressure, using footprint index (HFI), explained variation effect sizes attributes meta-regression. calculated Hedges’ g from 44 studies including 11 986 samples 40 predatory 39 cities globally. The direction magnitude varied among predator taxa with reptilian diets exhibiting most sensitivity urbanization. Effect revealed predators had comparable diet nitrogen ratios, though carbon IRs were more enriched cities. found neither 1993 nor 2009 HFI editions size variation. Our study provides, our knowledge, first assessment urbanization has perturbed predator–prey interactions for multiple at global scale. conclude functional role conserved does not inherently relax predation, despite broadening include food sources such as sugar, wheat corn.

Language: Английский

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Chemical signal diversity in male sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) along an urbanization gradient

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Abstract Urban areas have globally expanded recently and will likely continue to do so in the near future. Although impact of urbanization on acoustic visual sexual signals has received considerable attention, other aspects, such as its influence chemical signaling, remain poorly studied. Many lizard species possess femoral glands, i.e. prominent epidermal glands underside thighs producing a wide variety compounds used signaling. Here we assessed effect urban, suburban rural habitats individual body condition variation signal composition sand ( Lacerta agilis ). By using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, characterized present secretions glands. We found that lizards from urban had highest diversity chemicals, while showed significantly lower compound diversity. Lizards high amounts several compounds, including α-tocopherol, an antioxidant molecule may counterbalance damaging effects irradiation pheromones. Chemical not only depend habitat characteristics but traits, condition, also affect Body did differ across habitats, find association between gland secretions. argue environmental differences (more extreme cities) well factors increased stress shape semiochemicals lizards. Our study provides insight how conditions imposed by urban–rural gradients modulate communication vertebrates.

Language: Английский

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Evidence for urban food limitation in a widespread invasive lizard

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(3)

Published: April 14, 2025

Language: Английский

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Artificial light at night increases growth and reproductive output inAnolislizards

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 287(1919), P. 20191682 - 20191682

Published: Jan. 22, 2020

Since the invention of electric lighting, artificial light at night (ALAN) has become a defining, and evolutionary novel, feature human-altered environments especially in cities. ALAN imposes negative impacts on many organisms, including disrupting endocrine function, metabolism, reproduction. However, we do not know how generalized these are across taxa that exploit urban environments. We exposed brown anole lizards, an abundant invasive exploiter, to relevant levels laboratory assessed effects growth reproduction start breeding season. Male female anoles increased did suffer corticosterone. exposure induced earlier egg-laying, likely by mimicking longer photoperiod, reproductive output without reducing offspring quality. These increases should increase fitness. Anoles, potentially other taxa, may be resistant some able take advantage novel niche space creates. both its positive play crucial role determining which species invade

Language: Английский

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Do Suburban Populations of Lizards Behave Differently from Forest Ones? An Analysis of Perch Height, Time Budget, and Display Rate in the Cuban Endemic Anolis homolechis

Diversity, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 15(2), P. 261 - 261

Published: Feb. 13, 2023

Urbanization transforms natural ecosystems into novel habitats, which can result in negative consequences for biodiversity. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms of maintenance native species urbanized environments, including behavior—which act as a fast response rapid environmental changes. We compared some behavioral traits between two suburban and forest populations Anolis homolechis. Direct observations 779 individuals revealed that perch height was positively influenced by body size, but not sex. Suburban perched higher than ones, even more so afternoon morning; behavior observed forests populations. These differences might be due change from foraging activities morning vigilance, display, and/or thermoregulation afternoon, promoted habitat conditions (e.g., predator abundance, open structure, urban heat). Video recordings 81 focal showed males were active females (i.e., spending less time stationary having display rate), with no significant effect type. As our results diverge previous studies on invasive anoles, we recommend extending comparative non-urban other Anolis.

Language: Английский

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Do urban habitats induce physiological changes in Mediterranean lizards?

Journal of Zoology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 321(1), P. 75 - 82

Published: June 5, 2023

Abstract Urban environments offer dramatically different habitats for wildlife compared with natural environments. They provide, example, levels of resource availability, anthropogenic night light, and microclimates (e.g., urban heat islands). For reptiles, increased temperatures in the city can lead to energetic demands metabolic rates unless they change their morphology physiology adapt or acclimatize conditions. We explored differences rate, evaporative water loss, body size two lizard species – rock agamas ( Laudakia vulgaris ) Mediterranean house geckos Hemidactylus turcicus ), from nearby open areas. When tested lab, we expected identify physiological adaptations resulting decreased metabolism individuals. Both had similar lengths masses at both habitat types, suggesting any costs benefits between do not affect overall condition. In laboratory, were individuals species, indicating no long‐term this trait. However, (but agamas) higher loss than conspecifics more habitats. This may suggest compositions epidermal lipids affecting gecko skin's resistance evaporation Overall, our results highlight elements environment that might reptiles. urge caution interpreting other locations. With increasing urbanization worldwide, understanding when what degree local occur help us predict reptile distribution survival light future changes.

Language: Английский

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The influence of urbanization on morphological traits in the Balsas Basin Whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis costatus costatus)

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 24(2), P. 327 - 333

Published: July 18, 2020

Language: Английский

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Differences in sex ratio, tail autotomy, body size and body condition between suburban and forest populations of the cuban endemic lizard Anolis homolechis

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 25(6), P. 1711 - 1723

Published: July 4, 2022

Language: Английский

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Downtown Diet: a global meta-analysis of urbanization on consumption patterns of vertebrate predators

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 21, 2020

Abstract Predation is a fundamental ecological process that shapes communities and drives long-term evolutionary dynamics. As the world rapidly urbanizes, it critical to understand how built environment other human perturbations alter predation across taxa. We conducted meta-analysis quantify effects of urban environments on three components trophic ecology in predators: dietary species richness (DSR), evenness (DEV), stable isotopic ratios (δ 13 C δ 15 N IR). then evaluated whether intensity anthropogenic pressure, using footprint index (HFI), explained variation effect sizes attributes meta-regression. calculated Hedges’ g from 44 studies including 11,986 samples 40 predatory 39 cities globally. The direction magnitude varied between predator taxonomic groups with reptile diets exhibiting most sensitivity urbanization. Effect revealed predators had comparable DSR, DEV, nitrogen ratios, though carbon consumption was significantly higher. found HFI did not explain sizes, result consistent 1993 2009 editions this metric. Our study provides first assessment urbanization has perturbed predator-prey interactions for multiple taxa at global scale, revealing functional role conserved does inherently relax predation.

Language: Английский

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