What trait is quickly favored in *I. lesueurii* near dark, heat-absorbing artificial surfaces?

Darker pigmentation

The text highlights a specific instance of urban adaptation where evolutionary pressures lead to immediate trait selection. In environments characterized by dark, heat-absorbing artificial surfaces, such as pavement or dark construction materials, traits that assist in thermoregulation or camouflage against these novel backgrounds are strongly favored. Consequently, the frequency of darker pigmentation increases rapidly in these urbanizing zones because it aids the lizard in efficiently absorbing heat or blending into the man-made landscape, demonstrating a direct proportional response to the selection gradient.