Work

Emergent properties of urban landscapes shape urban eco-evolutionary dynamics

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Context Urbanization transforms natural ecosystems into heterogeneous and fragmented landscapes, creating novel selective pressures that can drive eco-evolutionary dynamics. However, the specific role of urban spatial structure in shaping these dynamics remains poorly understood in landscape ecology. Objectives We test two hypotheses: (1) urban landscapes differ systematically from non-urban landscapes, exhibiting lower landscape heterogeneity, lower forest aggregation, and higher developed-land aggregation across U.S. metropolitan regions and (2) these spatial properties influence eco-evolutionary feedbacks in interacting metacommunities by shaping trait evolution, species interactions, and dispersal. Methods Using data from 100 U.S. metropolitan areas, we first empirically quantify how urbanization reshapes landscape heterogeneity and connectivity. We then develop a proof-of-concept spatially explicit eco-evolutionary metacommunity model in which heterogeneity is represented as variation in patch quality and connectivity as dispersal coupling. We evaluate the model using a plant–pollinator system to examine how these spatial properties influence extinction timing and mutualistic feedbacks under scenarios with and without plant trait evolution. Results Urban landscapes exhibit distinct spatial signatures with high variability in patch connectivity that can alter eco-evolutionary dynamics by modifying trait convergence, dispersal flows, and the persistence of mutualistic interactions. Our eco-evolutionary model shows that plant evolution accelerates pollinator extinction by reinforcing feedback loops that reduce mutualistic investment, consistent with prior non-spatial models. Without evolution, increased heterogeneity and connectivity delay extinction through source–sink dynamics. When evolutionary disinvestment is active, these spatial benefits are substantially reduced—especially those conferred by heterogeneity. The combined influence of spatial structure, trait change, and interaction strength generates nonlinear outcomes not captured by models that omit any of these components. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that urban spatial structure critically modifies eco-evolutionary feedbacks in urban systems. Accounting for these interactions is essential for anticipating biodiversity responses and guiding urban design strategies that enhance ecological resilience.

Source: Landscape Ecology

DOI: 10.1007/s10980-026-02450-8