Behavioral plasticity can facilitate evolution in urban environments

Plasticity-led evolution is central to evolutionary theory. Although challenging to study in nature, this process may be particularly apparent in novel environments such as cities. We document abundant evidence of plastic behavioral changes in urban animals, including learning, contextual, developmental, and transgenerational plasticities. Using behavioral drive as a conceptual framework, our analysis of notable case studies suggests that plastic behaviors, such as altered habitat use, migration, diurnal and seasonal activity, and courtship, can have faciliatory and cascading effects on urban evolution via spatial, temporal, and mate-choice mechanisms. Our findings highlight (i) the need to incorporate behavioral plasticity more formally into urban evolutionary research and (ii) the opportunity provided by urban environments to study behavioral mechanisms of plasticity-led processes.

Automated summary

Plasticity-led evolution plays a central role in evolutionary theory and is particularly evident in novel environments like cities. Our research highlights the abundant evidence of plastic behavioral changes in urban animals and their significant impact on urban evolution through spatial, temporal, and mate-choice mechanisms. We emphasize the need to incorporate behavioral plasticity more formally into urban evolutionary research and the opportunity provided by urban environments to study behavioral mechanisms of plasticity-led processes.