By: Mallory Crispens, Sarah Faley, and Lilly Leach (Stonehill College, Bio323: Evolution Spring 2024)
Overview
One of the most beneficial characteristics for survival in the natural world is the ability to adapt to changing environments. In the face of climate change and increasing urbanization of rural areas, it has become even more important for wildlife to be able to adapt and endure increasing temperatures. Urban heat islands are a significant consequence of urbanization, occurring when cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. These heat islands create a brand-new environment for wildlife, particularly for pond-dwelling animals such as tadpoles whose aquatic environment is sensitive to change. While most organisms living in urban environments have elevated tolerance to heat, the thermal adaptations of aquatic organisms are relatively unknown. In the article, “Tadpoles Develop Elevated Heat Tolerances in Urban Heat Islands Regardless of Sex”, Dr. Bokony analyzes tolerance to increasing temperature, as a result of urbanization, in tadpoles.