"Urban animals?"

Fang Ye explained: "Well, for example, we are recently preparing to create a farmland exhibition area, so that visitors can learn about the ecosystem in the farmland, know where their food comes from, and how to grow food that is environmentally friendly. I'm also planning to build a corresponding urban animal exhibit in the future, and the theme is probably how humans and animals coexist, can you provide some examples of this? ”

Wang Yan nodded in understanding, thought for a while, and said: "Urban animals are very interesting, completely different from wild animals in the countryside. I remember a trip to Chicago about six or seven years ago and lived near the Botanical Gardens, and my friend excitedly said, you might see 1242 if you live here. ”

“1242？”

"1242 is a coyote, a yote, and I saw him on the first night of my stay.

He walked past a construction site with lights on and warnings, but 1242 looked very relaxed and seemed to have fully adapted to the city environment.

But soon we started to see him during the day, and I wondered, and the staff in Chicago said to me very seriously, Wang, you are here at a good time, maybe we are witnessing a new change in the coyote represented by 1242, from nocturnal to diurnal.

Because 1242's spouse 1244 was shot by a resident when he broke into a resident's backyard two weeks ago, but 1242 and 1244 were raising a litter of offspring together, and he couldn't supply food for the baby coyote alone, so he not only went out to forage at night, but also began to come out during the day, and we just happened to witness this rapid change in the past few days.

Then we traced the coyote's videos and materials from this researcher, and found that the coyote would look at traffic lights in the city, and he knew that when the pedestrian passage turned green, it was safe to pass, and he could swagger past the front of the car, and he also knew where there was danger, where there was food, which dog could and which could not be messed with, and the staff told us that we were always underestimating the coyote's ability to adapt to the city. Coyotes are constantly refreshing our understanding.

There is a narrow green belt around the lake along Lake Michigan, and 1242 he can run through the whole city along the green belt around the lake, and then continue to go deep into the center of the city in a place where the greenery is better and safer.

About 20 years ago, there were no coyotes in Chicago, but by the time I visited, there were more than 1,200 coyotes in the forest, and their range was expanding.

They use public transport, seem to be united, and are very ferocious to their prey, but their discipline is not to hurt anyone.

Where people used to think that coyotes didn't exist and couldn't stay, they all arrived.

In the past, people thought that coyotes lived alone, but now there is a special behavior, that is, the baby coyote does not find a large habitat, the parents will allow it to live with them, and will provide a little help, and the siblings will not disperse quickly, there is a stage of unity and cooperation. ”

Fang Ye listened very interestingly: "So after the coyote enters the city, its behavior changes rapidly with the city to adapt to the life of the city. ”

Wang Yan took a sip of water: "That's right, not only behavior, but even physiology will change. One of the most interesting studies on foxes in the UK this year was that they found that red foxes living in British cities had turned themselves into dogs. ”

Fang Ye was a little confused: "What does it mean to become a dog?" ”

Wang Yan said with a smile: "That is to say, the size of the red fox is getting smaller, and there is a gap between the male fox and the female fox in size, and the male fox is stronger and more aggressive." But in the city, it is difficult to distinguish between male and female foxes in terms of size.

The fox's ears, which had been pointy, turned into round ears, and even drooped downward, and began to get closer to the dog's appearance, and their size and aggression were decreasing.

The sharp beak of the fox itself is preded and eaten, but in the city, it slowly turns into a short round mouth, which looks cuter and more suitable for picking up garbage and picking up human food. ”

Fang Ye's heart shook when he heard this: "It's really incredible, the speed of evolution is too fast. ”

Wang Yan said: "Yes, once animals adapt to urban life, there will be a very rapid evolution.

There is also a study on haddock voles two years ago, originally the researchers thought that voles live in the city, maybe so many cats, lights, all kinds of cars coming and going, may not be in a very good state of survival, it is a very nervous state.

However, actual studies have found that in fact, voles live very comfortably and relaxed, and their tension hormones and stress hormones are significantly lower than those in the field.

If you poke a field vole, or give a slight electric shock, it will be very alarmed, eating, sleeping, and the rhythm of life will be affected, but urban voles don't matter, you can poke it, what should I do.

Its immune system, endocrine system, hormone regulation, and response to external stimuli are all more resilient because of the changes in urban life. ”

Fang Ye had a familiar feeling when he heard it, and said with some amusement: "Isn't this just lying flat now?" It's better to live a little easier than to be tired and tired. ”

Wang Yan also smiled: "There are indeed many similarities. This is also a kind of adaptability that human beings exhibit. ”

Fang Ye said seriously: "Like coyotes and red foxes, what you are talking about is that they run in with the city and change themselves to adapt to the city, are there any positive things that we humans have taken the initiative to change?" ”

Wang Yan showed a look of emotion: "The emperor butterfly is an example that impresses me more. ”

Fang Ye raised his eyebrows and said, "Oh, Emperor Butterfly!" ”

The monarch butterfly is probably the most well-known butterfly in the world!

The black wings and orange wings are not only beautiful in appearance, but also very spectacular when migrating, which can be said to be overwhelming. When I was a child, I saw the figure of the monarch butterfly in the documentary.

Wang Yan said: "Americans especially like monarch butterflies, like to raise monarch butterflies and ornamental, but in the past 20 years, the population of monarch butterflies has dropped by 80, the number has dropped sharply, and the monarch butterflies have directly reached the edge of vulnerability, even endangerment, according to this trend, it may not be extinct in a few decades." ”

Fang Ye couldn't help but sigh slightly.

"The reason for the sharp decline in their numbers is not only rising temperatures, habitat destruction, but also the heavy use of pesticides, herbicides, and the inaction of the U.S. government along the highways.

But it's very difficult to push the government, to push this transportation department, to have them set up laws and regulations on pesticides and herbicides, and to make that change. ”