Urban Males Research Articles

Psychological well-being and its influence on elderly life

Abstract Background: This study examines the influence of psychological well-being (PWB) on the quality of life (QOL) among elderly individuals, considering demographic factors such as gender and urban vs. rural residence. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 255 individuals aged 65–75 years from urban and rural areas of New Delhi, India. PWB was assessed using the Psychological Well-Being Scale, and QOL was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and regression analysis. Results: A significant positive relationship was found between PWB and QOL, with PWB accounting for 14% of the variance in QOL (P < 0.001). Urban males showed the highest PWB and QOL scores, whereas rural females exhibited the lowest scores. Conclusions: PWB is an important predictor of QOL among older adults. Addressing demographic disparities in well-being is crucial for designing effective interventions tailored to diverse populations.

The trends of arterial hypertension and ischemic heart disease in Lithuanian population (1983-2023)

Abstract Background During the past two decades, in Lithuania, the morbidity and mortality from circulatory system diseases such as ischemic heart disease (IHD) have been increasing. The increasing incidence of IHD can be linked to the IHD prevention program implemented in Lithuania, which was launched in 2005. This study aimed to determine and evaluate the prevalence of IHD, their risk factors, and trends among middle-aged (45-64 years) urban males and females in Lithuania over the last 40 years. Methods During our study, the changes in the prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) and IHD, among Kaunas city inhabitants aged 45-64 years in six population-based cohorts (1982-1983 (n = 1660), 1986-1987 (n = 1152), 1992-1993 (n = 824), 2001-2002 (n = 978), 2006-2008 (n = 4604) and 2023 (n = 554)) were analyzed. AH was defined when the arterial blood pressure was ≥140/90 mmHg or a person had taken antihypertensive drugs during 2 weeks. IHD was defined when a person had a previous myocardial infarction (MI) and/or ischemic changes on electrocardiogram (ECG) were assessed by Minnesota codes. The prevalence of AH and IHD changes were evaluated using regression analysis. Results During 1983-2023, the prevalence of AH among males aged 45-64 significantly increased from 58.7% (1982-1983) to 72.7% (2023) (p = 0.04), but among females aged 45-64 the prevalence of AH tended to decrease from 63.0% (1982-1983) to 50.9% (2023) (p = 0.18). The prevalence of IHD among males aged 45-64 was without significant changes and was from 14.4% (1982-1983) to 13.6% (2023) (p = 0.7), but among females aged 45-64 the prevalence of IHD significantly decreased from 21.7% (1982-1983) to 16.6% (2023) (p = 0.04). Conclusions From 1983 to 2023, among Lithuanian middle-aged urban males, the prevalence of AH significantly increased, but the prevalence of IHD was stable, meanwhile, among Lithuanian middle-aged urban females the prevalence of AH tended to decrease, but the prevalence of IHD significantly decreased. Key messages • From 1983 to 2023, among Lithuanian middle-aged urban males, the prevalence of AH significantly increased, meanwhile among females - tended to decrease. • Over 40 years, the prevalence of IHD among Lithuanian males was without significant changes, but among females - significant decreased.

Post-COVID social engagement and depression among Chinese older adults: exploring rural/urban and gender differences.

This study investigates the impact of post-COVID social engagement on depression levels among Chinese older adults, with a focus on rural/urban and gender differences. Using the year 2018 and year 2020 data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study analyzed pre- and post-COVID depression levels and social engagement indicators, including going-out, activities and networking among Chinese older adults (N = 8,793). Results showed a significant increase in depression levels across all demographic groups post-COVID, with rural females exhibiting the highest levels of depression. Reduced social engagement was associated with increased depression, particularly among rural males and females. Subgroup analyses highlighted nuanced patterns: rural males suffered from decreased intense activities and online contacts, while urban males experienced heightened depression with reduced visiting and light activities. Rural females reported increased depression with decreased moderate activities and dancing outdoors but decreased levels with reduced online contacts. Conversely, urban females experience decreased depression with reduced social engagements, suggesting areevaluation of priorities amidst pandemic challenges. This study has underscored the importance of considering individual, cultural, and contextual factors in understanding mental health outcomes among Chinese older adults. Findings inform targeted interventions aimed at promoting psychological well-being and resilience among Chinese older adults in the post-COVID era, including community-based programs and mental health screenings, to foster social connection and emotional support.

Meat-Egg-Dairy Consumption and Frailty among Chinese Older Adults: Exploring Rural/Urban and Gender Differences.

The dietary patterns of older adults, particularly in relation to meat, egg, and dairy (MED) consumption, significantly impact frailty, a state of heightened vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. This paper investigates the association between MED consumption and frailty among older Chinese adults, considering rural/urban disparities and gender differences. Analyzing data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) spanning from 2008 to 2018, this study explores how MED consumption influences frailty levels over time. The results show that moderate MED consumption is associated with slower frailty progression, suggesting a protective effect against frailty among older adults. However, excessive MED consumption, particularly among rural residents and females, is linked to accelerated frailty progression. Urban residents and males report higher MED consumption levels, possibly due to their greater access to diverse food options and traditional dietary preferences. The findings underscore the complex interplay between dietary habits, demographic factors, and frailty outcomes. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing targeted interventions to mitigate frailty risk factors and promote healthy aging among Chinese older adults.

Age and sex-specific disability-free life expectancy in urban and rural settings of Bangladesh

BackgroundDisability-free life expectancy (DFLE) has been used to gain a better understanding of the population’s quality of life.ObjectivesThe authors aimed to estimate age and sex-specific disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) for urban and rural areas of Bangladesh, as well as to investigate the differences in DFLE between males and females of urban and rural areas.MethodsData from the Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics-2016 and the Bangladesh Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES)-2016 were used to calculate the disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) of urban and rural males and females in Bangladesh in 2016. The DFLE was calculated using the Sullivan method.ResultsWith only a few exceptions, rural areas have higher mortality and disability rates than urban areas. For both males and females, statistically significant differences in DFLE were reported between urban and rural areas between the ages of birth and 39 years. In comparison to rural males and females, urban males and females had a longer life expectancy (LE), a longer disability-free life expectancy, and a higher share of life without disability.ConclusionThis study illuminates stark urban–rural disparities in LE and DFLE, especially among individuals aged < 1–39 years. Gender dynamics reveal longer life expectancy but shorter disability-free life expectancy for Bangladeshi women compared to men, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address these pronounced health inequalities.

Differences in the Elderly Care Service Demand,Preference,and Tendency Between Urban and Rural Areas in the Pearl River Delta

Objective To understand the differences in the demand,preference,and tendency for elderly care services between urban and rural areas in the Pearl River Delta (PRD),and to provide reference for the planning and balanced allocation of elderly care resources in urban and rural areas. Methods Using the multi-stage stratified random sampling method,we selected 7 community health service centers in 2 prefecture-level cities in the PRD and conducted a questionnaire survey on the elderly care service demand,preference,and tendency among 1919 regular residents aged 60 years and above who attended the centers. Results A total of 641 urban elderly residents (33.4%) and 1278 rural elderly residents (66.6%) were surveyed in the PRD.The urban and rural elderly residents showed differences in the child number (χ2=43.379,P<0.001),willingness to purchase socialized elderly care services (χ2=104.141,P<0.001),and attitudes to the concept of raising child to avoid elderly hardship (χ2=65.632,P<0.001).The proportion (71.8%) of rural elderly residents who prefer family-based elderly care was higher than that (57.1%) of urban elderly residents (χ2=41.373,P<0.001).The proportion (62.2%) of urban elderly residents clearly expressing their willingness to choose institutions for elderly care was higher than that (44.0%) of rural elderly residents (χ2=57.007,P<0.001).Compared with family-based elderly care,the willingness to choose institutional or community-based in-house elderly care was low among the urban elderly residents with surplus monthly household income or balanced income and expenditure;urban males,those with college education background or above,and those who purchased socialized elderly care services tended to prefer community-based in-house elderly care.In rural areas,the elderly residents who had local household registry were prone to choose institutional or community-based in-house elderly care,while those who had more than one child and those who were satisfied with the current living conditions were less willing to choose community-based in-house elderly care. Conclusions It is suggested that the urban-rural differences in the elderly care service demand,preference and tendency should be fully considered in the planning and allocation of urban and rural elderly care resources.Efforts remain to be made to develop diversified social elderly care services tailored to the characteristics of urban and rural areas.

Mobile phone addiction and suicide behaviors among Chinese adolescents: The mediation of poor sleep quality.

Mobile phone addiction (MPA) is emerging among adolescents, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the correlation between MPA and suicide behaviors and its mechanism. The objective of the current study is exploring the direct effect of MPA on suicide behaviors and the indirect effect through poor sleep quality. A total of 18,900 Chinese adolescents aged 12 to 18 were recruited via a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The prevalence of MPA and poor sleep quality was 26.2 and 23.1%, respectively. During the past year, 24.4% participants were involved in suicide behaviors. Specifically, suicide ideators, suicide planners, and suicide attempters were 10.7, 8.4, and 5.3%, respectively. Particularly, rural females had the highest prevalence of suicide behaviors, MPA, and poor sleep quality.Logistic regression analysis showed that MPA was significantly associated with suicide ideators (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.09-1.37, p < 0.001) and planners (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.04-1.34, p < 0.05), but not for suicide attempters (p > 0.05). Structural equation modelling demonstrated that MPA had direct effect on suicide behaviors (β = 0.145, 95% CI = 0.127-0.160), and poor sleep quality partially mediated the relationship (the mediating ratio was 46.7%). The mediating ratio of poor sleep quality was the highest in urban males. MPA has both direct and indirect effects on suicide behaviors. For suicide prevention, limited mobile phone use and improvement sleep quality may be practical for adolescents. Additionally, more efforts of intervention could give priority to rural girls.

Trends in Mortality of Cirrhosis in China: An Analysis of the China Death Surveillance Database from 2008 to 2020.

China accounts for 14.9% of total cirrhosis deaths worldwide. A detailed and comprehensive understanding of the contemporary status of cirrhosis mortality in China is crucial for establishing strategies for intervention and decreasing the disease burden of cirrhosis worldwide. The study aimed to report the cirrhosis mortality rates in our whole country or province over time. Mortality data from 2008 to 2020 were retrieved from the Disease Surveillance Point System (DSPs) of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The crude mortality rate and age-standardized mortality rate of patients with cirrhosis were stratified by sex, residential location, and region. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) in cirrhosis mortality rates from 2008 to 2020 was also calculated. The crude mortality rate of cirrhosis was 4.57/100,000 people in 2020. Compared with females and individuals living in urban areas, males and people living in rural areas had greater age-standardized mortality. The crude mortality rate and age-standardized mortality rate in provinces in Southwest China (Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Qinghai) were greater than those in other provinces. Moreover, with increasing age, the age-specific mortality rate increased significantly. From 2008 to 2020, the mortality rate of cirrhosis in China decreased except for in males aged 50-59 years, females aged 45-49 years and females aged 80-84 years. The mortality rate of patients with cirrhosis in China decreased from 2008 to 2020. In the future, interventions of cirrhosis mortality control need to pay more attention to all males, females aged 45-49 and 80-84 years, and people living in rural areas and in provinces in Southwest China.

Social anxiety and suicidal ideation among middle-school students in China: a mediation model of internet addiction.

Suicide is a fatal public health issue for adolescents, and it is of great significance to explore the precursors of suicidal behaviors, especially suicidal ideation. However, the relationship between social anxiety and suicidal ideation and its mechanism are still unclear. The study aims to examine the association between social anxiety and suicidal ideation and the mediating effect through Internet addiction. A total of 2,278 middle-school students aged 12 to 16 years were recruited through a multistage cluster sampling method in this cross-sectional study. Logistical regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted to examine the direct and indirect effects of social anxiety. During the past year, 262 (11.50%) participants reported suicidal ideation. Females had a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation than males (12.9% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.034), and urban adolescents reported a higher prevalence than their rural counterparts (13.4% vs. 9.6%, p = 0.006). In the total sample, social anxiety and Internet addiction were independently associated with suicidal ideation (p < 0.05). In the subgroup analysis, the association between social anxiety and suicidal ideation was significant only among rural females and urban males (p < 0.05). SEM demonstrated that social anxiety had direct and indirect effects on suicidal ideation, and Internet addiction partially mediated the relationship, with a mediating ratio of 30.53%. The partial mediating effect was also significant only in rural females and urban males. Adolescents may overuse the Internet to cope with social anxiety and further have suicidal ideation. Limiting Internet use and improving interpersonal skills in real life may be efficient for suicide prevention. In addition, targeted interventions should be tailored by different sexes across urban and rural regions.

Influence of living settings on physical activity levels and volition in exercise in male and female university students.

This study explored the influence of living settings on physical activity (PA) levels and volition in exercise and their correlation, considering sex differences. Five hundred and sixty-six university students (261 rural and 305 urban) from Calabria region (Italy) attending universities courses filled an online survey where Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and Volition in Exercise Questionnaire were administered. Rural females (RF) showed lower PA levels and self-confidence than rural males (RM) (p<0.01). Postponing training and unrelated thoughts were higher in RF than RM (p<0.01 and p<0.05 respectively). PA levels, self-confidence and coping with failure were lower in urban females (UF) than urban males (UM) (p<0.01), Postponing training and unrelated thoughts were higher in UF than UM (p<0.01 and p<0.05). In RF and UF, PA levels positively correlated with self-confidence (Rho = 0.397) and coping with failure (Rho = 0.330), whereas negatively correlated with postponing training (Rho = -0.487) and unrelated thoughts (Rho = -0.283). In RM and UM, PA levels positively correlated with self-confidence (Rho = 0.270) and coping with failure (Rho = 0.258), whereas it negatively correlated with postponing training (Rho = -0.285). PA levels positively correlated with reasons (Rho = 0.260) only in UM. We showed for the first time the relationship between PA and volition factors considering the living setting in university students. Sex differences were observed in some volition facilitators and PA levels independently by the living context.

A REVIEW ON THE EFFICACY OF SIDDHA DRUG THIPPILI NEI IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SWASAKASAM

The Siddha system is an ancient traditional medicine in Tamilnadu in South India. In the Siddha system, the disease is classified into 4448 types based on derangements of Mukkutram (i.e.: Vatham, Pitham, Kapham). According to Siddha text Yugi Vaidhya Chinthamani, there are nearly 20 kinds of Kasam. Swasakasam (Bronchial Asthma) is one among them. Bronchial asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disorder among all age groups with a reported prevalence of 5 to 10 %. In India, the prevalence of Asthma has been reported to be 0.6% and 3.2% in rural and urban women respectively. The same in urban males has been 4%. This review article deals with siddha poly herbal formulation “Thippili nei” indicated for Swasakasam (Bronchial Asthma) in Siddha Sastric literature “The Siddha Formulary of India”.

Morbidity and mortality patterns among patients in a tertiary hospital, South-west, Nigeria: a five-year retrospective study

Objectives: Morbidity and mortality statistics are essential tools for assessing population health status as well as effective elements to adapt to the changing epidemiological trends. This study aimed to assess the morbidity and mortality pattern in the facility while also looking into the patterns of presentation at the facility. Methods: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was employed, involving the review of patient’s medical records from January 2016 to December 2020. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentages and central tendencies were used. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: A total of 2,809 patient records were scrutinized from January 2016 to December 2020. The mean age of the respondents was 27±20.5 years, the majority were urban dwellers (91.4%) and males were predominant (55.7%). Infectious and parasitic diseases were found to have the highest prevalence among the respondents (44.1%). Diseases of the respiratory system and the circulatory system had a prevalence of 14.9% and 4.2% respectively. The mortality rate among the respondents was 3.6%. Conclusion: The morbidity pattern in this facility was largely dominated by infectious and parasitic diseases thus showing that communicable diseases such as Malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis are still prevalent in Nigeria with a high burden on the health system. There is an urgent need to strengthen disease prevention measures across all levels of Health care to stem this tide.

Long-term trends of nasopharyngeal carcinoma mortality in China from 2006 to 2020 by region and sex: an age-period-cohort analysis

BackgroundChina has a high mortality from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The NPC mortality trends in China from 2006 to 2020 were described and analyzed to understand its epidemiological characteristics by region and sex and to explore age, period, and cohort effects.MethodsThis study utilized NPC mortality data from the China Health Statistical Yearbook. A joinpoint regression model was used to fit the standardized NPC mortality and age-specific mortality. The age-period-cohort model was applied to investigate age, period, and cohort effects on NPC mortality risk.ResultsThe results showed that the NPC mortality rate in China has been declining steadily. From 2006 to 2020, the standardized NPC mortality rate in most age groups showed a significant downward trend. The annual percentage change was smaller in rural areas than in urban areas. The mortality risks of rural males and rural females from 2016 to 2020 were 1.139 times and 1.080 times those from 2011 to 2015, respectively. Both urban males born in 1984–1988 and rural males born in 1979–1983 exhibited an increasing trend in NPC mortality risk.ConclusionsOur study confirmed the effectiveness of NPC prevention and treatment strategies in China from 2006 to 2020. However, it underscored the urgent need for targeted interventions in rural areas to further reduce NPC mortality rates.

Urban and rural male song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) differ in territorial aggression and activation of vasotocin neurons in response to song challenge

When living in urban habitats, ‘urban adapter’ species often show greater aggression toward conspecifics, yet we do not understand the mechanisms underlying this behavioral shift. The neuroendocrine system regulates socio-sexual behaviors including aggression and thus could mediate behavioral responses to urbanization. Indeed, urban male song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), which are more territorially aggressive, also have greater abundance of the neuropeptide arginine vasotocin (AVT) in nodes of the brain social behavior network. Higher abundance of AVT could reflect long-term synthesis that underlies baseline territoriality or short-term changes that regulate aggression in response to social challenge. To begin to resolve the timeframe over which the AVT system contributes to habitat differences in aggression we used immediate early gene co-expression as a measure of the activation of AVT neurons. We compared Fos induction in AVT-immunoreactive neurons of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTm) and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) between urban and rural male song sparrows in response to a short (< 5 min.) or long (> 30 min.) song playback to simulate territorial intrusion by another male. We found that urban males had a higher proportion of Fos-positive AVT neurons in both brain regions compared to rural males, regardless of the duration of song playback. Our results suggest that AVT neurons remain activated in urban males, independently of the duration of social challenge. These findings that Fos induction in AVT neurons differs between rural and urban male song sparrows further implicate this system in regulating behavioral responses to urbanization.

Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk assessment of heavy metals in cooked beans and vegetables in Punjab, North India.

Beans and vegetables are consumed with cereals in India on daily basis. The aim of the study was to assess carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of heavy metals in cooked beans and cooked vegetables consumed by adults (18-59 years) and elderly (≥60 years) subjects from two districts (Ludhiana and Bathinda) of Punjab. A total of 150 households were selected from 30 different locations covering both rural and urban areas. The mean daily consumption of beans and vegetables in Ludhiana was recorded as 35.09 and 215.93 g, respectively. The corresponding figures in Bathinda were observed as 26.85 and 230.54 g. The average amounts of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury were 1.44 × 10-5, 8.21 × 10-5, 1.30 × 10-3, and 2.61 × 10-7 mg/kg for cooked vegetables in urban households of Ludhiana district, respectively. The corresponding values for rural households were 1.53 × 10-5, 5.58 × 10-5, and 2.98 × 10-4 mg/kg while mercury was not detected. The mean chronic daily intake (CDI) of arsenic from cooked beans was significantly (p ≤ .001) higher in urban adult males of Ludhiana (7.74 × 10-9 mg/kg/day) and Bathinda (5.31 × 10-9 mg/kg/day) compared to their rural counterparts. Similar trend was observed in CDI of heavy metals from vegetables. The mean CDI of cadmium from cooked vegetables in urban adult females of Ludhiana (3.76 × 10-7 mg/kg/day) was significantly (p ≤ .001) higher than their rural counterparts and both urban and rural adult females of Bathinda. The study concluded that the subjects of both districts were found safe from non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk associated with heavy metals present in cooked beans and vegetables, except for urban subjects and rural adult subjects of Ludhiana district who had cancer risk due to cadmium present in cooked vegetable samples.

Sexual minorities are not a homogeneous population: health disparity differences based on residence in rural versus urban settings.

Past research has demonstrated that, separately, sexual minorities (SMs) and rural-dwelling populations are each at elevated risk for chronic diseases relative to heterosexuals and urban-dwelling populations, respectively. Little research, however, has assessed whether rural SM populations may experience even further chronic disease risk. Data come from the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2015-2019. Survey-weighted logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between sexual identity and various health-associated outcomes, stratified by rural/urban status and adjusted for demographic and other risk factors. Urban bisexual and rural lesbian females had significantly decreased odds of having any health insurance and increased odds of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis, any heart disease, and STIs relative to their heterosexual counterparts, with disparities affecting bisexual women living in rural areas being largest. Urban gay males had increased odds of having health insurance relative to urban heterosexuals. Both urban gay and bisexual males also experienced increased odds for several chronic diseases, however, among rural residents increased risk was only observed for bisexual males with regards to high blood pressure. Rural-dwelling bisexual women experience elevated likelihood for physical health conditions compared to urban-dwelling bisexual women, but few other rural populations experience elevated risk. Urban gay men, meanwhile, are more likely to possess insurance but simultaneously experience worse health outcomes across several domains of diseases, suggesting lower utilization of healthcare services. Future research should strive to avoid pooling all SMs into a single risk group as we have clearly demonstrated that strong differences exist based on both sex and rural/urban status.

Changes in call properties of Boana pulchella (Anura, Hylidae) in response to different noise conditions.

The increasing expansion of urban areas leads to the emergence of new noisy environments that can affect animal communication. Calls play a crucial role in the mating displays of anurans, and the negative impact of anthropogenic noise-induced auditory masking has been reported in several species. We investigated the acoustic variation in 96 males (n = 971 calls) of the treefrog Boana pulchella across acoustically undisturbed sites and different noise conditions, associated with urban areas (URBAN) and roads (ROAD), in Central Argentina. We analyzed the effect of anthropogenic noise conditions on 6 temporal (call duration [CD], intercall interval, first and second note duration, internote interval, and call rate) and 3 spectral (dominant frequency of first and second note, frequency difference between them) call properties. The effects of temperature and size on acoustical variables were controlled. We observed differences in all call attributes among the noise conditions, except for intercall interval. Males exposed to URBAN and ROAD exhibited significant changes in CD, dominant frequency of the second note, and frequency difference between them. URBAN males had longest internote interval, while ROAD individuals displayed increased first and second note duration and call rates. Interestingly, ROAD males exhibited immediate changes in call rate in direct response to passing heavy vehicles. Our study emphasizes the impact of anthropogenic noise on the acoustic characteristics of B. pulchella calls. Understanding how animals adapt to noisy environments is crucial in mitigating the adverse effects of urbanization on their communication systems. Future investigations should explore whether the observed call adjustments are effective in avoiding or mitigating the negative consequences of anthropogenic noise on reproductive success.

Indirect effects of urbanization: consequences of increased aggression in an urban male songbird for mates and offspring

Behavioral traits are often the first response to changing environmental conditions, including human induced rapid environmental change. For example, animals living in urban areas are often more aggressive than rural animals. This is especially evident in songbirds; males of several species display elevated aggression in urban habitats. Increased male aggression has been associated with reduced parental care, but the consequences of this trade-off for males, social partners, and offspring in the context of urbanization remains unclear. We explored the effects of increased urban male aggression on the life history traits, parental care, and offspring outcomes of song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). We predicted that urban males would reduce paternal investment and result in urban females providing greater nestling care or reduced fledging success in urban habitats compared to rural. Contrary to our prediction, aggressive urban males did not decrease care but visited the nest more often compared to rural males. Additionally, urban birds had higher nest and fledging success compared to rural, though this was largely due to higher nest predation in rural habitats. Our study is among the first to evaluate trade-offs associated with elevated aggression expressed by urban animals and adds to a growing body of evidence that urban habitats provide benefits to some species.

Latitude-specific urbanization effects on life history traits in the damselfly Ischnura elegans.

Many species are currently adapting to cities at different latitudes. Adaptation to urbanization may require eco-evolutionary changes in response to temperature and invasive species that may differ between latitudes. Here, we studied single and combined effects of increased temperatures and an invasive alien predator on the phenotypic response of replicated urban and rural populations of the damselfly Ischnura elegans and contrasted these between central and high latitudes. Adult females were collected in rural and urban ponds at central and high latitudes. Their larvae were exposed to temperature treatments (current [20°C], mild warming [24°C], and heat wave [28°C; for high latitude only]) crossed with the presence or absence of chemical cues released by the spiny-cheek crayfish (Faxonius limosus), only present at the central latitude. We measured treatment effects on larval development time, mass, and growth rate. Urbanization type affected all life history traits, yet these responses were often dependent on latitude, temperature, and sex. Mild warming decreased mass in rural and increased growth rate in urban populations. The effects of urbanization type on mass were latitude-dependent, with central-latitude populations having a greater phenotypic difference. Urbanization type effects were sex-specific with urban males being lighter and having a lower growth rate than rural males. At the current temperature and mild warming, the predator cue reduced the growth rate, and this independently of urbanization type and latitude of origin. This pattern was reversed during a heat wave in high-latitude damselflies. Our results highlight the context-dependency of evolutionary and plastic responses to urbanization, and caution for generalizing how populations respond to cities based on populations at a single latitude.

Differences in male calling song and female mate location behaviour between urban and rural crickets

Abstract Traffic noise is one of the selection pressures of urban habitats. Because noise interferes with acoustic communication, many studies have shown that the temporal structures of acoustic signals change depending on the noise. However, it is often unknown whether the changes are adaptive, such as changes being more easily located by females under noisy conditions. To investigate the phenomena, bend-legged ground crickets (Dianemobius nigrofasciatus) were collected from three urban and three rural habitats and reared in a common garden conditions. Male calling songs and female mate location behaviour of the progeny were measured. Urban males emitted a calling song with a higher dominant frequency and shorter chirp than did rural males. The playback experiment of female response and localization to songs of urban and rural males, controlling for noise, showed that there were no significant effects of the song on the mate location behaviour between urban and rural songs under noisy conditions. Although the song of urban males elicited a faster response of females, the effect was limited. These results indicate the change in song is not adaptive in terms of female choice. Urban females located more quickly to song under noisy conditions. The results suggest adaptive changes in female mating behaviour occur in urban habitats.