Urbanapt

URBANAPT. Phenotypic and genetic adaptations to urban environment in animal species

Urbanization has radically transformed landscapes worldwide, resulting in fragmentation and degradation of habitats, and biodiversity loss. Still, urban environments also provide wildlife with new ecological niches, which many organisms can exploit and adapt to. Cities represent excellent replicated natural laboratories to evaluate the extent to which geographically isolated populations successfully adapt to similar selection pressures. URBANAPT focuses on population responses along replicate urbanization gradients across multiple cities (Milan, Turin, Florence, Rome, Naples, Campobasso) and multiple taxa (Podarcis siculus and Podarcis muralis). We examine genomic (whole-genome sequencing) and phentoypic (morphology, colour, behaviour, physiology) variation to assess the impact of population fragmentation on genetic and phenotypic diversity, and the genetic basis of adaptation in urban populations.