Meeting Abstract
Rapid urbanization subjects wildlife to unique environmental pressures, some of which can be harmful and others beneficial. Several different life-history adaptations and acclimations to urban conditions have been revealed in a variety of animals, but few investigations in this area have considered a broad suite of fitness-related traits simultaneously. Here we summarize findings from a long-term investigation of behavioral and ecological responses to urbanization in a native desert songbird (the house finch, Haemorhous mexicanus). City finches are consistently less colorful and more heavily parasitized than rural birds; interestingly this effect is stronger in female finches than in males. Urban finches show indications of reduced behavioral stress (e.g. responsiveness to an approaching human), but also can be more physiologically stressed (e.g. elevated breath rate when in a human hand). Human disturbance also has a weaker effect on problem solving ability (in a foraging context) and sleep patterns of city finches. Taken together, the composite set of urban pressures appear to more negatively impact house finches, yet we see their populations persist and even expand in some North American cities. We discuss these patterns in light of potential plasticity and naturally and sexually selected adaptations in this common species.
