2026-05-14 ワシントン大学（UW）
Volunteers with the Billion Oyster Project restore oyster habitat along the New York Harbor shoreline. In new research from the University of Washington, researchers explore how evolution can alter nature-based infrastructure projects like this one. Photo: Steven DeWitt/Witness Tree Media
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.washington.edu/news/2026/05/14/evolution-nature-based-solutions-green-infrastructure-urban-planning/
- https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aea9563
都市のレジリエンスを高めるための、進化し続ける自然ベースのソリューション Evolving nature-based solutions for urban resilience
Marina Alberti, Nancy B. Grimm, Eric P. Palkovacs, Mark C. Urban, […] , and Yuyu Zhou
Science Published:14 May 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aea9563
Editor’s summary
Cities are hotspots for implementing nature-based solutions such as street trees, rain gardens, green roofs, and restored wetlands to mitigate urban heat, flooding, and pollution. The same stressors that necessitate these nature-based solutions also act as selection agents, yet evolution is rarely considered when designing interventions involving living organisms. In a Review, Alberti et al. synthesized research on eco-evolutionary dynamics in cities and their implications for nature-based solutions. The authors propose design principles based on their findings and suggest future research avenues to test their efficacy. —Bianca Lopez
Abstract
Despite growing investments in nature-based solutions for urban resilience, their design often overlooks a fundamental biological process: evolution. Populations of organisms that sustain nature-based solutions are dynamic and can evolve over time. Rapid evolutionary changes, driven by urban environmental stressors, such as pollution, climate extremes, and habitat fragmentation, can reshape species’ traits, alter interactions, and shift ecosystem functions. We synthesize evidence of evolutionary change across systems that serve as nature-based solutions in urban contexts and show how evolutionary processes can enhance or undermine their performance. We propose four testable hypotheses linking evolutionary dynamics to nature-based solutions and outline design strategies to maintain adaptive potential. Integrating evolution into nature-based solutions is essential to ensure long-term and efficient functionality under accelerating environmental change.
