Continent-wide effects of urbanization on bird and mammal genetic diversity
It is well known that urbanization affects life on Earth, but people do not often think about lack of genetic diversity as a negative effect. Using raw genotype data from 41 mammal and 25 bird species as well as human population density and the Human Footprint Index, scientists found that mammals had lower effective population sizes, lower genetic diversity, and were more genetically differentiated than wild populations in urban environments. There was no consistent relationships detectable for birds. This shows us that urbanized areas not only disturb the mammal populations living within the area, but also render them more likely to suffer from effects of inbreeding.
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2019.2497
Kristin Carline | Journal Update | 4/13/20
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