Latest news with #urbanadaptation
The Guardian
7 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Sulphur-crested cockatoos observed using bubblers in western Sydney
A new study says a population of sulphur-crested cockatoos in western Sydney have begun drinking from twist-handled public drinking fountains. Researchers published their findings in the journal Biology Letters. 'Successful operation requires a coordinated sequence of actions, with only 41% of observed attempts ending in success … To our knowledge, this behaviour has not been observed elsewhere. Altogether, this suggests that this drinking innovation has spread to form a new urban-adapted local tradition'
WIRED
29-05-2025
- Health
- WIRED
Hummingbirds Are Evolving to Adapt to Life With Humans
May 29, 2025 5:00 AM Anna's hummingbirds have evolved to have longer, larger beaks to access backyard feeders in urban areas. It could be a step toward becoming a 'commensal' species that lives alongside humans, like pigeons. A hummingbird drinking nectar from a feeder. Photograph: LAP/GETTY IAMGES Some species of hummingbird are adapting to urban life by undergoing evolutionary changes in their anatomy, influenced by the proliferation of artificial drinking fountains. According to some biologists, this might show that these birds are on their way to becoming commensal with humans—benefiting from living closely alongside them—like pigeons have in urban areas. A recent study found that the size and shape of the beaks of Anna's hummingbirds ( Calypte anna ), a species native to North America, have changed. A hummingbird's beak is naturally long and slender in order to access nectar located in deep inside flowers. However, in recent decades, the beaks of urban Anna's hummingbirds have evolved to be significantly longer and larger to better access sugar-laced drinking fountains installed outside of homes, which have proliferated in urban areas. This adaptation suggests that these feeders offer hummingbirds more food than nectar-filled flowers. The study, which looked at reported sightings of the birds as well museum specimens from the past 160 years, also found that males are developing sharper, more pointed beaks, possibly to compete with other hummingbirds for access to these sugar-filled fountains. Populations of these hummingbirds expanded northward in California at the same time as the establishment of urban centers where feeding could take place. The researchers discovered that the population density of Calypte anna has also increased over time, and found that this appears to be linked to the proliferation of feeding fountains and nectar-producing eucalyptus trees, both of which were introduced to the region by humans. These morphological changes to the hummingbirds have occurred rapidly. According to the study, Calypte anna populations in 1930 were very different from those in 1950, when the birds' bills had already begun to grow. In just 20 years, equivalent to about 10 generations of these birds, evolution left its mark, the authors note. To conduct the research, the team used sighting data for the species in all 58 Californian counties between 1938 and 2019, in addition to analyzing specimens preserved in museums. They also turned to old newspaper advertisements to estimate the number of feeders in use during the last century. Finally, they developed a computational model to predict hummingbird expansion, taking into account assisted feeding and the presence of eucalyptus trees. An Anna's hummingbird in flight.'They seem to be moving where we are going and changing quite rapidly to succeed in their new environments. We can think of the Anna's hummingbird as a commensal species, similar to pigeons,' says Nicolas Alexandre, coauthor of the study and a geneticist at Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology and de-extinction company based in Dallas, Texas. Hummingbird feeders or drinkers use sugar water to attract hummingbirds and provide food during seasons when flower nectar is scarce. According to the journal Science, one of the oldest records of these devices dates back to 1928, although they were probably in use much earlier. In general, they do not pose a risk to the species, as long as they are cleaned regularly to avoid the proliferation of bacteria and fungi that can affect hummingbirds. Another species of bird, the common pigeon ( Columba livia ) has also adapted to living in cities. Pigeons can be found in urban spaces around the world, taking advantage of the plentiful nesting sites and food that cities have to offer. They exist in urban environments without having a significant impact on human activities, this being a clear example of commensalism, where one species gains advantages by linking with another without directly harming it. Columba livia originally inhabited rocky areas of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. However, it was domesticated more than 5,000 years ago as a source of food and due to its excellent sense of direction, which meant the birds could be used for carrying written messages. As a result, many were released into new habitats, with some choosing to live in cities, becoming part of the urban fauna. Today, they are one of the most common birds in the world. This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists sound alarm after witnessing disturbing changes in wild animal behavior: 'That does create problems'
Wild animals are increasingly adjusting to urban environments through a process known as synurbization. That's an undoubtedly bad sign — and serves as a warning for how much nature has been damaged by urbanization. A new analysis by nonprofit news site Particle highlights how synurbization is reshaping wildlife behavior across the globe. As the report outlines, many wild species — including squirrels, raccoons, foxes, badgers, and even coyotes — are now more prevalent in cities than in their traditional habitats. These urban-adapted animals, dubbed synanthropes, tend to share several traits: They live in higher population densities, often show increased aggression toward their own species, and have highly adaptable diets that frequently include human food waste. Birds are among the most widespread synanthropes, with species like pigeons, ibises, cockatoos, and more thriving in urban settings. The analysis highlights some wild animals — like Barcelona's wild boars, Mumbai's leopards, and Florida's manatees — as adapting to urban environments in notable behavior-changing ways. Take manatees — the gentle giants love the warm waters around power plants so much that they've stopped following their old migration routes and now depend on these fossil-fuel stations to stay warm. With more than half of the world's population now living in urban areas, cities have become centers of bustling activity — and wildlife conflict. While many humans consider synanthropes pests, their ability to adapt to urban environments is a clear sign of how wildlife is being forced to evolve — or relocate — in response to expanding human development. In case there was any doubt, synurbization is not a good thing. While animals are surviving in urbanized environments, they are not thriving. As natural landscapes are degraded by human development, habitats become fragmented or destroyed entirely, forcing wildlife to either adapt, migrate, or suffer population decline. This loss of habitat reduces biodiversity and disrupts ecological balance. Increased human activity also brings pollution, noise, and light pollution, all of which interfere with natural behaviors like feeding, mating, and migration. Although wildlife bears the brunt of synurbization, humans are also affected. As the report highlights, some synanthropes can be dangerous to humans, like disease-carrying rats, aggressive stray dogs, and unruly wild boars. Encroaching on territories that displace these animals or force them to coexist with humans can lead to injury, disease, and death. In India, for example, rabies is endemic. According to the World Health Organization, the country accounts for approximately 36% of global rabies deaths, with an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 human deaths each year. Most cases result from stray dog bites. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While culling and relocation are two common tactics for ridding urban areas of synanthropes, the analysis offers a smarter, more sustainable alternative — redesigning urban infrastructure to better support wildlife. Successful examples of supporting wildlife in urban areas include California's wildlife bridge over a busy highway and Finland's native wildflower habitat to support pollinators and local species. "We can get creative with the ways we live together," Dr. Gillian Paxton, an environmental anthropologist at James Cook University, told Particle. "There is a role for redesigning cities and rethinking urban environments. We need to have cities that are accommodating to wildlife — but that does create problems." As evidence of this complex dynamic, Particle highlights how some industrial areas are becoming more hospitable to wildlife as pollution declines. As a result, dolphins have been increasingly spotted near power stations in Japan, drawn to cleaner waters. While this suggests environmental improvement can benefit marine synanthropes, human activity still poses risks. For instance, dolphins near Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant were exposed to dangerous levels of radioactivity following the 2011 nuclear disaster. This underscores the double-edged nature of human intervention: better environmental management can aid wildlife recovery, but serious threats remain. "When we say we're living with something, that sounds very passive — like we just kind of coexist," Dr. Paxton told Particle. "Living together is more active than that. It involves both parties." Paxton added: "Instead of tolerating the wildlife, we need to cooperate." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
