26-Jun-2025
#Chicago’s #rodents are evolving to handle city living
#Chipmunk and #vole skulls from over 125 years reflect changes in diet and noise exposure
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1088505 #science #ecology #evolution #UrbanEcology #UrbanEvolution #cities

Chicago’s rodents are evolving to handle city living
Scientists recently found an example of evolution in real time, tucked away in the collection drawers of the Field Museum in Chicago. By comparing the skulls of chipmunks and voles from the Chicagoland area collected over the past 125 years, the researchers found evidence that these rodents have been adapting to life in an increasingly urban environment.