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Journal article
Effects of urban-induced mutations on ecology, evolution and health
Nature ecology & evolution
19 Apr 2024
PMID: 38641700
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that urbanization is associated with higher mutation rates, which can affect the health and evolution of organisms that inhabit cities. Elevated pollution levels in urban areas can induce DNA damage, leading to de novo mutations. Studies on mutations induced by urban pollution are most prevalent in humans and microorganisms, whereas studies of non-human eukaryotes are rare, even though increased mutation rates have the potential to affect organisms and their populations in contemporary time. Our Perspective explores how higher mutation rates in urban environments could impact the fitness, ecology and evolution of populations. Most mutations will be neutral or deleterious, and higher mutation rates associated with elevated pollution in urban populations can increase the risk of cancer in humans and potentially other species. We highlight the potential for urban-driven increased deleterious mutational loads in some organisms, which could lead to a decline in population growth of a wide diversity of organisms. Although beneficial mutations are expected to be rare, we argue that higher mutation rates in urban areas could influence adaptive evolution, especially in organisms with short generation times. Finally, we explore avenues for future research to better understand the effects of urban-induced mutations on the fitness, ecology and evolution of city-dwelling organisms.
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Details
- Title
- Effects of urban-induced mutations on ecology, evolution and health
- Creators
- Marc T J Johnson - University of TorontoIrtaqa Arif - University of TorontoFrancesco Marchetti - Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaJason Munshi-South - Fordham UniversityRob W Ness - University of TorontoMarta Szulkin - University of WarsawBrian C Verrelli - Virginia Commonwealth UniversityCarole L Yauk - University of OttawaDaniel N Anstett - Michigan State UniversityWarren Booth - Virginia TechAude E Caizergues - University of TorontoElizabeth J Carlen - Washington University in St. LouisAnthony Dant - University of ArizonaJosefa González - Institute of Evolutionary Biology, CSIC, UPF, Barcelona, SpainCésar González Lagos - Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Santiago, ChileMadeleine Oman - University of TorontoMegan Phifer-Rixey - Drexel UniversityDiana J Rennison - University of California, San DiegoMichael S Rosenberg - Virginia Commonwealth UniversityKristin M Winchell - Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Publication Details
- Nature ecology & evolution
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES); Biology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001205250400001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85195856106
- Other Identifier
- 991021868999504721
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InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology