Adaptive Evolution in Citites: Progress and Misconceptions

Current narratives suggest that urban adaptation - the adaptive evolution of organisms to cities - is pervasive across taxa and cities. However, in reviewing hundreds of studies, we find only six comprehensive examples of species adaptively evolving to urbanization. We discuss the utility and shortcomings of methods for studying urban adaptation. We then review diverse systems offering preliminary evidence for urban adaptation and outline a research program for advancing its study. Urban environments constitute diverse, interacting selective agents that test the limits of adaptation. Understanding urban adaptation therefore offers unique opportunities for addressing fundamental questions in evolutionary biology and for better conserving biodiversity in cities. However, capitalizing on these opportunities requires appropriate research methods and dissemination of accurate narratives.

Automated summary

Despite current narratives suggesting pervasive urban adaptation across taxa and cities, a review of hundreds of studies revealed only six comprehensive examples of species adaptively evolving to urbanization. Urban environments pose diverse and interacting selective pressures that challenge the limits of adaptation, offering unique opportunities for addressing fundamental questions in evolutionary biology and conserving biodiversity in cities. Capitalizing on these opportunities requires appropriate research methods and accurate narrative dissemination.