Urban evolution refers to the heritable genetic changes of populations in response to urban development and anthropogenic activities in urban areas. Urban evolution can be caused by mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, or evolution by natural selection.[1] Biologists have observed evolutionary change in numerous species compared to their rural counterparts on a relatively short timescale.[1][2]
Strong selection pressures due to urbanization play a big role in this process. The changed environmental conditions lead to selection and adaptive changes in city-dwelling plants and animals.[3][2] Also, there is a significant change in species composition between rural and urban ecosystems.[4]
Shared aspects of cities worldwide also give ample opportunity for scientists to study the specific evolutionary responses in these rapidly changed landscapes independently. How certain organisms (are able to) adapt to urban environments while others cannot, gives a live perspective on rapid evolution.[3][2]
- ^ a b Johnson, M. T. J., and J. Munshi-South. 2017. Evolution of life in urban environments. Science 358:aam8327.
- ^ a b c Diamond, Sarah E.; Martin, Ryan A. (3 November 2021). "Evolution in Cities". Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics. 52 (1): 519–540. doi:10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-012021-021402. ISSN 1543-592X. S2CID 239646134.
- ^ a b Bender, Eric (21 March 2022). "Urban evolution: How species adapt to survive in cities". Knowable Magazine. Annual Reviews. doi:10.1146/knowable-031822-1. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ McKinney, Michael L. (2002). "Urbanization, Biodiversity, and Conservation: The impacts of urbanization on native species are poorly studied, but educating a highly urbanized human population about these impacts can greatly improve species conservation in all ecosystems". BioScience. 52 (10): 883–890. doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2002)052[0883:UBAC]2.0.CO;2. S2CID 265271.
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