Scienceenvironment
Urbanization Disrupts Tropical Bird Diversity More Than Elsewhere
A recent study led by researchers at McGill University reveals that human expansion and urbanization significantly disrupt ecological patterns. Specifically, city growth hits bird populations harder in tropical regions compared to higher latitudes. This phenomenon weakens the latitudinal diversity gradient, a long-standing ecological rule where biodiversity naturally peaks near the equator. As urban environments expand globally, tropical ecosystems face unique pressures that diminish their natural species richness.