A global horizon scan for urban evolutionary ecology

The impact of urbanization on biodiversity has been well documented, yet research into the complex dynamics of ecological and evolutionary processes in urban areas is still in its infancy. When novel research challenges emerge, a horizon scan exercise is an integrated approach that brings together global interdisciplinary-minded individuals to identify future research questions that can influence new collaborations and funding agenda. Our horizon scan identified 30 questions for future research in urban evolutionary ecology covering themes in fundamental ecological and evolutionary processes, temporal and spatial scales, sustainability, climate change, sociopolitical and ethical considerations, and innovation in technology. Research on the evolutionary ecology of urban areas reveals how human-induced evolutionary changes affect biodiversity and essential ecosystem services. In a rapidly urbanizing world imposing many selective pressures, a time-sensitive goal is to identify the emergent issues and research priorities that affect the ecology and evolution of species within cities. Here, we report the results of a horizon scan of research questions in urban evolutionary ecology submitted by 100 interdisciplinary scholars. We identified 30 top questions organized into six themes that highlight priorities for future research. These research questions will require methodological advances and interdisciplinary collaborations, with continued revision as the field of urban evolutionary ecology expands with the rapid growth of cities. Research on the evolutionary ecology of urban areas reveals how human-induced evolutionary changes affect biodiversity and essential ecosystem services. In a rapidly urbanizing world imposing many selective pressures, a time-sensitive goal is to identify the emergent issues and research priorities that affect the ecology and evolution of species within cities. Here, we report the results of a horizon scan of research questions in urban evolutionary ecology submitted by 100 interdisciplinary scholars. We identified 30 top questions organized into six themes that highlight priorities for future research. These research questions will require methodological advances and interdisciplinary collaborations, with continued revision as the field of urban evolutionary ecology expands with the rapid growth of cities. include a wide variety of self-learning technologies that can physically operate in environments with minimal human supervision. interactions between ecological and evolutionary processes that play out on contemporary time scales. subset of eco-evolutionary dynamics where ecological change causes evolutionary change, which then feeds back to cause additional evolutionary change. genetic material obtained directly from environmental samples, for example, soil, air, sediment, and water. traits evolved for one role, through either selection or neutrality (i.e., for no function at all in the latter case), and then later ‘co-opted’ for their current role. approaches that combine information and communication technology to enable citizens to respond more effectively to evolving changes in the urban environment. the process of converting undeveloped land into cities and towns where humans become highly concentrated.