Habitat use and ecological interactions of an introduced and a native species of Anolis lizard on Grand Cayman, with a review of the outcomes of anole introductions
TL;DR: Review of data concerning 23 Anolis introductions indicates that the presence or absence of an ecologically similar native species may be an important determinant of colonization success or failure.
Abstract: Since its introduction ten years ago, Anolis sagrei has spread over much of Grand Cayman and is now more common in some habitats than the native anole, A. conspersus. Interspecific differences in body size, perch height, and microclimatic preference may have facilitated the colonization. Nonetheless, competition may be occurring between the species; comparisons with studies of habitat use prior to the arrival of A. sagrei indicate that in open habitats, where A. sagrei is now abundant, A. conspersus perches higher, but in closed habitats, where A. sagrei is absent, no change in perch height is evident. Review of data concerning 23 Anolis introductions indicates that the presence or absence of an ecologically similar native species may be an important determinant of colonization success or failure.
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TL;DR: Coastal conservation managers should shift from their traditional focus on C. equisetifolia afforestation to the recognition of multi-species configuration, and native species have facilitation relationships that differ according to the species.
11 citations
TL;DR: It is recorded that subsequent range expansion at this contact zone has been asymmetrical; A. leachii invaded the range of A. extremus, but reciprocal invasion by A. Extremus has not occurred.
Abstract: Character displacement may facilitate species coexistence through niche partitioning. However, the degree to which character displacement influences broader patterns of community assembly is unclear. Here, we capitalize on a natural experiment of community assembly on the oceanic island of Bermuda. Over the past century, three species of ecologically similar but distantly related Anolis lizards have been introduced to Bermuda where no Anolis has ever naturally existed. The Jamaican anole (A. grahami) arrived first in 1905 and dispersed rapidly across the island. Five decades later, the Antiguan anole (A. leachii) and the Barbadian anole (A. extremus) were introduced to independent locations. In 1991, A. leachii and A. extremus were observed to nearly meet at a contact zone, but not yet to coexist. We record that subsequent range expansion at this contact zone has been asymmetrical; A. leachii invaded the range of A. extremus, but reciprocal invasion by A. extremus has not occurred. When in allopatry in Bermuda, both species occupy identical ecological space. However, A. leachii underwent rapid ecological character displacement to use arboreal habitat when invading the range of A. extremus. These findings highlight how character displacement may influence the process of dispersal and drive patterns of coexistence and community assembly.
11 citations
Cites background from "Habitat use and ecological interact..."
...For example, in anoles, the vast majority of nonnative species invasions fail if an ecologically similar anole is already established (Losos et al. 1993), providing evidence for priority effects through niche incumbency....
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TL;DR: The habitat use of native frog species and the invasive cane toads in tropical northern Australia is investigated to measure overlap in habitat use, and to test if the presence of the cane toad influences frog behaviour.
Abstract: The ecological impacts of introduced species can reveal mechanisms underlying habitat selection and behaviour. We investigated the habitat use of native frog species and the invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) in tropical northern Australia to measure overlap in habitat use, and to test if the presence of the cane toad influences frog behaviour. Native frog species and the cane toad both preferred habitats close to water and unvegetated holes. However, native frogs were found further from water (on average 19.4 m) than were toads (on average 12.6 m), and preferred areas with higher vegetation (8–50 cm) than did toads, which were more abundant in vegetation lower than 8 cm. For both types of anuran, the next neighbour was more often of the same type (89% in frogs, 52% in toads) than expected by chance (observed ratio: 75% frogs vs 25% toads), reflecting these differences in habitat use. Our counts of frog abundance increased on average 14.5% in areas from which we removed cane toads temporarily. This result suggests that cane toads inhibit the activity of native anurans either by inducing avoidance, or by reducing activity. By modifying the behaviour and spatial distribution of native taxa, invasive cane toads may curtail activities such as feeding and breeding.
10 citations
Cites background from "Habitat use and ecological interact..."
...On Grand Cayman island, an introduced anole (Anolis sagrei) induced a shift in habitat use of native anoles (Anolis conspersus) (Losos et al. 1993)....
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TL;DR: In European streams, native brown trout (Salmo trutta) feed primarily on aquatic prey but consume a higher proportion of terrestrial prey in sympatry with non-native brook Trout (Salvelinus fontina...
Abstract: In European streams, native brown trout (Salmo trutta) feed primarily on aquatic prey but consume a higher proportion of terrestrial prey in sympatry with non-native brook trout (Salvelinus fontina...
10 citations
Cites background from "Habitat use and ecological interact..."
...It may also be 64 caused by shifts in diel activity patterns (Gerber et al. 2012) or habitat use (Losos et al. 1993), whereby 65 native species feed on an alternative prey type that is more abundant during their new window of 66 activity or in their new habitat (Murdoch et al. 1975)....
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...2012) or habitat use (Losos et al. 1993), whereby 65 native species feed on an alternative prey type that is more abundant during their new window of 66 activity or in their new habitat (Murdoch et al....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the effects of seasonal flooding on the lizard community structure by comparing two adjacent habitats, a seasonally flooded and a non-flooded forest, in a Cerrado-Amazon ecotone area, the Cantao State Park, Tocantins state, Brazil.
Abstract: Disturbance alters the structure and dynamics of communities. Here, we examined the effects of seasonal flooding on the lizard community structure by comparing two adjacent habitats, a seasonally flooded and a non-flooded forest, in a Cerrado–Amazon ecotone area, the Cantao State Park, Tocantins state, Brazil. Despite the strong potential impact of seasonal flooding, the only significant environmental difference detected was more termite mounds in non-flooded forests. Species richness was significantly higher in the non-flooded forest. Colobosaura modesta, followed by Mabuya frenata and Anolis brasiliensis, were the only species that differed in number of captures between sites. Colobosaura modesta was exclusively found in the non-flooded forest, while Anolis brasiliensis was the most captured in the flooded forest. Mabuya frenata is indicated as an indicator species in the flooded forest, and Colobosaura modesta in the non-flooded forest. We found a significant association between lizard abundances and habitat characteristics, with flooding, canopy cover, and logs being the best predictors. A phylogenetic community structure analysis indicated a lack of structure in both lizard assemblages. Overall, we show that seasonal flooding can strongly impact species richness and species occurrence patterns, but not phylogenetic community structure. The Amazon–Cerrado transition is undergoing pronounced transformations due to deforestation and climate change. Despite being species-poor compared with central areas in Amazon or Cerrado, this ecotone harbors species with important adaptations that could hold the key to persistence in human-disturbed landscapes or during periods of climate change.
Resumo
Disturbios podem alterar de maneira intensa a estrutura e a dinâmica das comunidades. Nos examinamos os efeitos de inundacoes sazonais na estrutura da comunidade de lagartos comparando duas areas adjacentes, uma sazonalmente inundada e outra nao inundavel, em um ecotono entre o Cerrado e a Amazonia, o Parque Estadual do Cantao, Tocantins, Brasil. Apesar do intenso impacto do alagamento sazonal, o numero de cupinzeiros foi a unica variavel ambiental que difere entre as areas, sendo significativamente maior na area nao inundavel. A riqueza foi significativamente maior na floresta nao inundavel. Colobosaura modesta, seguida por Mabuya frenata e Anolis brasiliensis, foram as unicas especies que diferiram em numero de captura entre as areas. Colobosaura modesta foi exclusivamente encontrada na floresta nao inundavel, enquanto Anolis brasiliensis foi a mais capturada na floresta inundavel. Mabuya frenata foi evidenciada como especie indicadora da floresta inundavel e Colobosaura modesta da floresta nao inundavel. Nos encontramos uma associacao significativa entre a abundância dos lagartos e as caracteristicas do habitat, sendo a inundacao, cobertura do dossel e a presenca de troncos caidos os melhores preditores. Uma analise de estrutura filogenetica da comunidade indicou ausencia de estrutura em ambas comunidades. Em suma, nos mostramos que inundacoes sazonais podem impactar fortemente a estrutura das comunidades de lagartos. A transicao Amazonia–Cerrado esta sofrendo acentuadas transformacoes devido ao desmatamento e mudancas climaticas. Apesar de apresentar baixa riqueza em relacao a areas mais centrais na Amazonia ou no Cerrado, esse ecotono abriga especies com importantes adaptacoes que podem ser a chave para a persistencia em paisagens impactadas pelo homem ou durante periodos de mudancas climaticas.
Abstract in Portuguese is available in the online version of this article.
10 citations
Cites background from "Habitat use and ecological interact..."
...Most anoles tend to have at least some degree of arboreality (Losos et al. 1993, Losos & de Queiroz 1997, Losos 2009) and even those mainly found on the ground, like A. brasiliensis, do not lose the ability to climb (Vitt et al. 2008)....
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...For example, native Anolis lizards of Grand Cayman Island show changes in habitat use and morphology due to the competitive pressure exerted by an introduced anole species (Losos et al. 1993)....
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References
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Book•
01 Jan 1956
TL;DR: This is the revision of the classic text in the field, adding two new chapters and thoroughly updating all others as discussed by the authors, and the original structure is retained, and the book continues to serve as a combined text/reference.
Abstract: This is the revision of the classic text in the field, adding two new chapters and thoroughly updating all others. The original structure is retained, and the book continues to serve as a combined text/reference.
35,552 citations
TL;DR: Technique non parametrique pour la signification statistique de tables de tests utilisees dans les etudes sur l'evolution notamment.
Abstract: Technique non parametrique pour la signification statistique de tables de tests utilisees dans les etudes sur l'evolution notamment
14,666 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1972
TL;DR: The summation of the life work of one of the most influential scientists of our time is presented in the book "Genius: A Summary of the Life Work of Thomas E. MacArthur" as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: First published in 1972 and now available for the first time in paperback, this book is the summation of the life work of one of the most influential scientists of our time. Of permanent interest in the history and philosophy of science, it is also frequently cited in the current ecological literature and is still up-to-date in many categories. "The theme running through this book," MacArthur wrote, "is that the structure of the environment, the morphology of the species, the economics of species behavior, and the dynamics of population changes are the four essential ingredients of all interesting biogeographic patterns." Written in his beautifully lucid style, this work will continue to be read by anyone concerned with biological ideas.
2,182 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that such small, non-dimorphic species are best suited for insinuation into complex faunas, whereas larger, dimorphic forms are best for the colonization of empty areas.
Abstract: The tiny island of South Bimini contains 4 species of lizards of the genus Anolis, a number surpassed only on the 4 largest islands of the Greater Antilles and on 2 very large and nearby satellite islands. These species are syntopic with respect to a two-dimensional area of the ground but divide the habitat according to perch height and perch diameter: sagrei is partly terrestrial, but occurs more often on small and large low perches; distichus prefers the trunks and large branches of medium to large trees; angusticeps inhabits small twigs, especially at great heights; and carolinensis is found mostly on leaves or on the adjacent twigs and branches. The size classes of the species are staggered in such a way that the inter- specific classes which overlap most in habitat overlap least in prey size. Similarities in prey size and prey taxa for classes of the same species are somewhat greater than those expected on the basis of habitat and morphology alone. The distribution of the species among the vegetation communities of Bimini can be explained on the basis of perch height and diameter preference. Within the same species, the larger lizards usually eat larger food, fewer items, and in sagrei more fruit; and they have a greater average range of food size per digestive tract. One species (distichus) is extremely myrmecophagous: about 75-90% of its food items are ants. In 3 of the 4 species, subadult males take more food and average smaller prey than females of the same head length. That species (distichus) which takes the smallest food item; and whose classes overlap the most in habitat preference with those of other species is least dimorphic in size between the sexes. It is suggested that such small, non- dimorphic species are best suited for insinuation into complex faunas, whereas larger, dimorphic forms are best for the colonization of empty areas. The usefulness of various measures of "overlap" and "specialization" is evaluated for this lizard association.
1,737 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1986
TL;DR: This book is the classic account of how much the authors have since learned about the evolution of Darwin's Finches and shows how interspecific competition and natural selection act strongly enough on contemporary populations to produce observable and measurable evolutionary change.
Abstract: After his famous visit to the Galapagos Islands, Darwin speculated that "one might fancy that, from an original paucity of birds in this archipelago, one species had been taken and modified for different ends." This book is the classic account of how much we have since learned about the evolution of these remarkable birds. Based upon over a decade's research, Grant shows how interspecific competition and natural selection act strongly enough on contemporary populations to produce observable and measurable evolutionary change. In this new edition, Grant outlines new discoveries made in the thirteen years since the book's publication. "Ecology and Evolution of Darwin's Finches" is an extraordinary account of evolution in action."
1,144 citations