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Recent articles

Fusco, N., Cosentino, B.J., Gibbs, J.P., and 33 other authors. 2023. Population genomic structure of a widespread, urban-dwelling mammal: The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Molecular Ecology . doi:10.1111/mec.17230

Cosentino B.J., Vanek J.P., Gibbs J.P. 2023. Rural selection drives the evolution of an urban-rural cline in coat color in gray squirrels. Ecology and Evolution. 13:e10544.

Cosentino, B.J. and J.P. Gibbs. 2022. Parallel evolution of urban-rural clines in melanism in a widespread mammal. Scientific Reports 12:1752.

Fischman, B.J., B.J. Cosentino, and J.P. Gibbs. 2021. City squirrels look different. Is evolution driving a color change? Discover Magazine - Citizen Science Salon.

Gibbs, J.P., Buff, M.F. and Cosentino, B.J., 2019. The biological system—urban wildlife, adaptation, and evolution: urbanization as a driver of contemporary evolution in gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). Understanding Urban Ecology: An interdisciplinary systems approach, pp.269-286. Springer Link.

Useful resources

A fascinating overview of the history of squirrels in urban areas: The Urbanization of the Eastern Gray Squirrel in the United States, Journal of American History 100, no. 3 (2013): 691-710 (.pdf available on author Etienne Benson’s website)

This podcast reveals much about our changing relationship with squirrels.

An article by Helen McRobie on gray squirrel morph genetics: The genetic basis of melanism in the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) Journal of Heredity 100: 709-714.