Montreal squirrels reveal how local conditions drive evolution
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Researchers at McGill University in Montreal, Canada studied eastern gray squirrels to understand how city life affects their traits.
Francis Quang-Hai Dinh observed over 800 squirrels in nearly 200 parks, noting variations in their coat colors, some were gray and others black. The team combined these observations with data from park surveys and citizen scientists to map squirrel populations across the city.
They discovered that the proportion of black squirrels increased in areas with cooler winter temperatures and denser forest canopy cover, suggesting darker coats helped them retain heat. Surprisingly, black squirrels were less common in highly urbanized areas of Montreal, a pattern different from what researchers often see in other cities. The study showed that local features like neighborhoods and rivers play a significant role in how animals adapt, creating distinct populations even within a single city.
Allison Roth, the study’s senior author, explained that conditions can “vary dramatically from one neighborhood to another,” influencing the way wildlife evolves over time. The researchers published their findings in the Journal of Animal Ecology as part of a larger collection of studies using open-access data and collaborative research methods.
