The London Underground Mosquitoes

Humans are 'creating new species' including a bizarre breed of mosquito that lives underground

We are all familiar with how human activities are driving the extinction of species around the world. Humans are in fact causing the rapid evolution and making new species of plants and animals emerge, according to a new study.

As the common house mosquito adapted to the environment of the underground railway system in London, it established a subterranean population. Now named the 'London Underground mosquito', it can no longer interbreed with its above ground counterpart and is effectively thought to be a new species. 

The study, led by the University of Copenhagen, outlined many examples of the process of man-made speciation, where human activities lead to the introduction of a new species.The process can take place by accident, through the emergence of new ecosystems like urban environments, or through the domestication of animals and crops. Unnatural selection caused by hunting can lead to new traits emerging in animals, which can eventually lead to new species.

The deliberate or accidental relocation of species can lead to hybridization with other species. This has meant more new plant species in Europe have appeared than are documented to have become extinct. These new species might be harmful and bring many unknown and dangerous disease that cannot be cured.