From long-legged urban lizards to moths adapting to pollution: How humans force animals to evolve

DNVN - Humans, through daily activities that cause changes in the natural landscape, have unintentionally "forced" some animals to evolve to adapt.

Urban lizards grow longer legs

Puerto Rican Crested Lizard.

In Puerto Rico, anole lizards have evolved to adapt to urban environments. These lizards have developed longer limbs and large toe pads, which help them move quickly and cling to smooth surfaces like walls and glass.

They can also tolerate higher temperatures than their rural counterparts, allowing them to survive in urban environments filled with concrete and metal. Studies show that these changes occur over generations, helping urban lizards survive and thrive.

Peanuts change the skull structure of red squirrels

A red squirrel is looking for food.

In the UK, red squirrels living in Formby Reserve have had their skull structure altered due to their peanut diet, making it easier for them to eat this food.

Studies have shown that eating peanuts makes their jaw muscles smaller and weaker than other squirrels. However, when the peanut diet is stopped, these changes show signs of being reversed, suggesting that diet plays an important role in evolution.

Fishing pressure is making cod smaller

Cod fishing pressure has changed the structure of fish populations.

Atlantic cod have been affected by overfishing. As fishermen target larger fish, cod have evolved to become smaller and reproduce earlier. This change has not only affected the size of the fish, but also their ecological role.

Previously, when they were large, cod would seek large prey, but now that they are small, they will only eat small animals. This fact also affects the ecosystem.

Crickets and fly parasites evolved simultaneously.

Pacific crickets are native to Australia and were introduced to Hawaii hundreds of years ago.

Pacific crickets, native to Australia, arrived in Hawaii hundreds of years ago on Polynesian canoes and faced invasive parasitic flies from North America.

To avoid being parasitized, crickets have changed their calls so as not to attract flies. However, parasitic flies have also evolved the ability to hear the crickets' calls, creating a parallel evolutionary loop between the two species.

Moths adapt to pollution and artificial light

The black-bodied peppered Chiswick Chap moth.

Pepper moths, once white to camouflage themselves on birch trees, turned black during periods of industrial pollution. When the air became cleaner, the moths turned white again.

However, urban light pollution is now affecting the behaviour of butterflies, as they evolve to avoid artificial light, even though this can reduce their home range and ability to mate.

Hien Thao

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/tu-than-lan-thanh-thi-chan-dai-den-buom-dem-thich-nghi-voi-o-nhiem-moi-truong-nhung-cach-con-nguoi-ep-dong-vat-tien-hoa/20250815072530837