ABSTRACT
Far from being barren, urban areas often are teeming with life, though the composition of species in cities is often different from those found elsewhere. Moreover, natural selection often has changed species that live in urban areas. Here, we consider how organisms have evolved in urban areas. One of the classic examples of evolution by natural selection—the peppered moth—is also an example of evolution in cities. We look at how living in cities has altered the faces of foxes and caused plants to restrict the dispersal of their seeds. Cities are often warmer than the surrounding areas; this urban heat island has affected the evolution of animals and plants. We also look at the behavioral and neurological changes that have occurred in some animals that thrive in cities. We look at how roads and other features of cities affect animals and their evolution. In some cases, the initial stages of speciation have happened in cities. We look at how the microbiota influences the ability to life in cities. We conclude with a discussion of rats and how the principles of evolutionary biology have been applied in managing these urban pests.
