Professor Yuyu Zhou’s recent publication in Science
- 8 hours ago
- 1 min read
Evolving nature-based solutions for urban resilience
Link to the paper:
Editor’s summary:
Cities are hotspots for implementing nature-based solutions such as street trees, rain gardens, green roofs, and restored wetlands to mitigate urban heat, flooding, and pollution. The same stressors that necessitate these nature-based solutions also act as selection agents, yet evolution is rarely considered when designing interventions involving living organisms. In a Review, Alberti et al. synthesized research on eco-evolutionary dynamics in cities and their implications for nature-based solutions. The authors propose design principles based on their findings and suggest future research avenues to test their efficacy. —Bianca Lopez
Abstract:
Despite growing investments in nature-based solutions for urban resilience, their design often overlooks a fundamental biological process: evolution. Populations of organisms that sustain nature-based solutions are dynamic and can evolve over time. Rapid evolutionary changes, driven by urban environmental stressors, such as pollution, climate extremes, and habitat fragmentation, can reshape species’ traits, alter interactions, and shift ecosystem functions. We synthesize evidence of evolutionary change across systems that serve as nature-based solutions in urban contexts and show how evolutionary processes can enhance or undermine their performance. We propose four testable hypotheses linking evolutionary dynamics to nature-based solutions and outline design strategies to maintain adaptive potential. Integrating evolution into nature-based solutions is essential to ensure long-term and efficient functionality under accelerating environmental change.
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