Creatures are Evolving at a City near you!
I’m sure you’ve all encountered the elegant pigeon; fed one, let one sit on your head. In fact, you may have sworn at them, called them rats with wings. But whatever you want to say about this bird, it is one of the few aviary species who not only has adapted to living in cities among the tall glass buildings but has thrived, nesting and rearing young. And don’t forget about the sexy cockroach who can withstand a tremendous amount of radiation.[i] Compared to all others, they are survivalist Olympians. But the pigeon and the cockroach are not the only creatures evolving in urban areas. All around the world, scientists are discovering others that are racing their way up the evolutionary scale.[ii] Here are a couple of species outsmarting merciless humans who shoot and poison them at will. These little guys just want to live. Why can’t we just let them do that?
The Los Angeles Lizard
This sweet green goblin lives in the most intensely developed parts of Los Angeles. They have fewer dorsal scales than their rural counterparts. The adaptation is believed to help them cope with “urban heat.”
The Western black widow of Phoenix, Arizona
This cutie pie spider produces many more eggs than country spiders, a system designed to maximize reproduction in a high death rate environment. Can’t help a girl for trying to keep her tribe alive.
The Acorn Ant of Cleveland, Ohio
I know it sounds like a rock band. But this handsome guy has made genetic changes that promote the manufacture of stress managing proteins triggered by heat. No stress equals more sex and more babies.
The Coyote of Denver, Colorado
The magnificent coyote has become bolder and more willing to come near humans. I’m not sure that counts on the evolutionary scale because, let’s face it, we have killed everything they like to eat, and now we are going to kill them for asking us for food. May God help the animal that harms a human. We might wipe the entire species off the planet as punishment. That has to stop.
The Water Flea of Brussels
When living in urban ponds, this sweet little flea matures at a much faster rate than its peers at rural ponds. That means they can have more offspring at a younger age to fight the high murder rate.
Ermine Moth of Basel Switzerland
Most moths have a fiery end zapped by a lightbulb. But guess what? This furry dumpling has evolved into a moth that is not attracted to light like its ancestors.
The Creek Chub of Raleigh, North Carolina
When it rains, urban water runoff is likened to white water rapids. That’s what happens when we level land to build suburbs and forget to leave the plants and their roots alive so that they can hold the soil together and absorb runoff water.
Developers do not have the intellectual capacity to understand sustainability. What does a developer care about? He builds he sells he leaves seeking the next environment to destroy.
So in order not to be swept away and discovering they don’t make life jackets for a half-inch neck, the adorable Chub has evolved in body shape that helps them to navigate in torrential rainfall.
Northern House Mosquito in London England
These posh mosquitoes have taken up residence in London’s underground. There is so much noise from the trains that they cannot hibernate like their relatives on the outside and have adapted to breed in confined spaces. A scone with that tea?
The Feral Pigeon of Paris, France.
Can a pigeon even be feral? In any case, the pigeons who live in this city have grown darker feathers because melanin is effective at removing toxic metals” found in urban environments like zinc and possibly lead. So folks, die your hair darker to stave off dangerous metals!
The Feral Pigeon of New York
Again I ask the question, can a pigeon even be feral? These city slickers have developed the ability to tolerate foods high in sugar without developing hyperglycemia. Yep. It’s ok to feed a New York Pigeon a bagel with vegan cream cheese and jam.
The Grove Snail of Leiden Netherlands
These sweet and kind urban snails have developed yellow shells and dark underbellies instead of the pink shells of those living in the countryside. Some scientists believe that the adaptation also helps to regulate their body temperature. (snailsnap. app)
The Crested Anole of San Juan Puerto Rico
What is an anole, you ask? It’s a lizard with a rooster-like comb who lives in the Puerto Rico rainforest but does not crow. When they moved to the city, they said to themselves? “We need longer legs and larger toe pads just to get along in these slimy city streets.”
And so it was done.
The Black Swan of Melbourne Australia
Nothing will keep these elegant beauties from a party. They love dining out. How can a bird get so bossy? Scientists believe that this behavior is linked to changes in the dopamine receptor gene called DRD4. Enough of all that scientific garble.
The swan says: If you have something yummy, give me, give it now, or I will chase you. And if I like it and I see you again, I expect you to gimmie more. Now!
The Atlantic Killifish of Newark, New Jersey.
The rumors are just not true. New Jersey does not have the highest murder rate in the US. Far from it. In fact, they are 45th on the list- one of the lowest. Maybe that’s because the Atlantic Killifish keeps them safe. But what these guys have done is truly amazing. In just a short period, they have become genetically resistant to the toxic compound Dioxin[iii] , which kills other members of its species.
[i] The U.S. TV series Mythbusters tested the cockroach survival theory in 2012 when they exposed cockroaches to radioactive material. The roaches survived longer than humans would have but they all died at extreme levels of radiation. Feb 23, 2019
[ii] Wired Magazine October 2019 reference to Kristen Winchell and Jason Muunchi-South and B.I.K.
[iii] (Wiki.) Dioxni is formed by burning chlorine-based chemical compounds with hydrocarbons. The major source of dioxin in the environment comes from waste-burning incinerators of various sorts and from backyard burn-barrels. It is considered one of the most toxic chemicals known to science (ejnet.org). Persistent environmental pollutants that remain in the environment for many years. Can you spell cancer? Problems with immune system and reproduction. Check out. D I O X N I.
Karina Holosko
M.A., Society of Professional Journalists, National Writers Union, Animal Rights Activist, Survivor. Kick-Ass, sculptor
