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A review by andrewspink
Darwin in de stad: evolutie in de urban jungle by Menno Schilthuizen
5.0
This is a book that definately exceded my expecations. I had expected a rather dry book about evolutionary theory, but unstead what I read was a fascianting series of stories illustraing various facets of evolution in the cities. Menno Schilthuizen starts by reminding us that evolution isn't just about what happended to the dinosours millions of years ago, but is what is going on here and now. At the begining of the book I knew that intellectually, by the end it was something I experienced. More to the point, he makes a convincing case that the extreme change in environment from a natural or semi-natural habiat to a city has led to very rapid evolution. He gives a whole load of interesting examples where that has been proven to happen and makes a strong case that the only reason we don't know more examples is that there hasn't been much reseach done in that area.
I was delighted to read a whole chapter about the work of the reseach group of my friend and ex-colleague Hans Slabberkoorn.
It was really interesting to read that there is proof of urban-specific evolution in humans (in the response of the immune system to TBC).
The book is very balanced. The author succesfully converys great enthusiasm for the plants and animals found in cities, includign all the 'aliens' and invasive new species. In the final chapter he makes it clear that of course the loss of biodiversity is to be regretted but that just because we are sorry for what we've lost doesn't mean that we get in its place is without value.
I was delighted to read a whole chapter about the work of the reseach group of my friend and ex-colleague Hans Slabberkoorn.
It was really interesting to read that there is proof of urban-specific evolution in humans (in the response of the immune system to TBC).
The book is very balanced. The author succesfully converys great enthusiasm for the plants and animals found in cities, includign all the 'aliens' and invasive new species. In the final chapter he makes it clear that of course the loss of biodiversity is to be regretted but that just because we are sorry for what we've lost doesn't mean that we get in its place is without value.