City life has a huge impact on coyote evolution

Coyotes are hardy and adaptable carnivores, and they have been spotted everywhere from the streets of Berkeley, California, to the Bronx in New York.

These urban coyotes are the focus of a recent study that sheds light on their remarkable journey and how cities might be influencing their evolution.

Timeless evolution in a modern world

In the past, many believed evolution took hundreds, if not thousands, of years to happen.

Yet, recent findings suggest that the process isn’t as drawn-out as we once thought. In fact, evolution can occur within just a handful of generations.

Nowhere is this clearer than in urban environments, where the constant interaction between animals and humans serves as a catalyst for change.

Some creatures demonstrate an exceptional ability to adapt to these new conditions. Amongst these, coyotes stand out.

“Coyotes are doing really well in urban spaces,” said Elizabeth Carlen from Washington University in St. Louis.

“Given the close evolutionary relationship between coyotes and domestic dogs, we leveraged the dog genome to think about what genes could be under selection in urban areas and how they might be changing.”

Piecing together the coyote genetic puzzle

Unraveling the genetic changes within populations of urban coyotes is no easy task.

“For coyotes in particular, the ecological differences between urban and rural individuals have been well characterized,” said Samantha Kreling of the University of Washington.

However, identifying the specific genes or genome regions affected has proved more elusive.

To solve this, researchers use a method known as the “candidate gene approach.” This involves sequencing and comparing specific genes of interest.

While whole-genome and epigenome sequencing are considered the gold standard for understanding evolutionary change, they often come with a hefty price tag.

To combat the budget constraints and still maintain statistical accuracy, researchers opt for this alternative approach. Carlen and Kreling’s study offers a deep insight into the traits that are under selection in urban coyotes, along with a list of candidate genes.

Changing diets, changing genes

One area where this evolution is evident is in the coyotes’ diet.

Unlike their rural counterparts who primarily feed on rabbits, mice, and other small mammals, urban coyotes tend to have a higher intake of glucose and starch from scavenging food scraps or leftover pet food.

This shift in diet could potentially trigger changes in genes that help regulate insulin sensitivity and production.

The same goes for starch digestion efficiency, which could explain the increase in the number of copies of AMY2B, a gene responsible for amylase production.

The coyote’s urbanization

Despite these fascinating observations, it’s important to remember that population trends among coyotes can vary.

For instance, Carlen points out an increase in coyote numbers along the East Coast due to the displacement of wolves.

“In these places, we’re seeing more coyotes because they’re occupying the niche space that previously would have been occupied by wolves,” she stated.

Back in St. Louis, Carlen and her team are studying urban coyotes using motion-triggered wildlife cameras and GPS collars, even amidst the challenges posed by the animals’ intelligence and elusiveness.

They’re smart, they’re adaptable, but unfortunately, they’re also misunderstood.

“There is a lot of misplaced fear around coyotes,” Carlen admits. “This is a decently large animal to be living alongside humans in our urban spaces, but I think that they are unfairly persecuted.”

Future endeavors

Carlen hopes this study will inspire more researchers to pursue the topic of urban adaptation in coyotes.

She believes this groundwork can serve as a starting point for urban evolutionary biologists studying other species.

“While we have seen continued growth in the field of urban evolution, research work linking specific genes to adaptation in urban regions is still relatively unexplored,” she remarked.

Indeed, the story of the urban coyote is more than a tale of survival and adaptability. It’s a shining example, in the concrete jungle, of the fluidity and resilience of nature.

As we continue to explore this fascinating phenomenon, perhaps we’ll uncover other equally intriguing changes that are happening right under our noses.

The full study was published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution.

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