The power of large-scale community science in addressing anthropogenic change.

Abstract

The human imprint on the global environment has become so pervasive that it rivals the forces of nature in its impact on ecosystem function. We are now living in the Anthropocene with increased air, light, noise, and heavy metal pollution (Foley et al., 2005). Understanding the link between anthropogenic stressors and functional trait characteristics will be vital to predict species response and adaptability to environmental change. Especially as urban areas increase, where anthropogenic changes are highly concentrated and overlapping, investigating how multiple stressors interact to affect individuals and populations is a current research priority. Wilson et al. (this issue) levy the power of human interest in wildlife to study the effects of human-generated pollution (2021). The authors provide a timely and novel continent-level study that addresses the interaction of light and noise pollution on species abundance and response using community science.