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Journal ArticleDOI

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.
Citations
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01 Jun 2012
TL;DR: Investigation of the differences in morphology between Anolis humlis and Anolis limifrons, sympatric species that exploit different structural microhabitats (arboreal vs. ground-dwelling) with different locomotion challenges found significant differences.
Abstract: There has been a recent surge of interest in the study of evolutionary relationships between morphology and microhabitat use in lizards in general. Lizards of the genus Anolis, most notably the Caribbean species, have become a model system in this respect. Although the mechanisms of Anolis locomotion have received considerable attention, however, little is known regarding locomotor performance of species of mainland Anolis in nature, and their morphological diversity. The goal of this study was to investigate the differences in morphology between Anolis humlis and Anolis limifrons, sympatric species that exploit different structural microhabitats (arboreal vs. ground-dwelling) with different locomotion challenges. A principal components analysis was performed on morphometric data for the two species that illustrates differences between the species. A multivariate analysis of variance on selected variables suggested only three variables: manus length, tail length and forelimbs length showed significant differences with respect to microhabitat use. Lizards that occupy vertical habitats (arboreal) tend to have longer tails and longer hind limbs (included the longer fourth toe) whereas lizards in terrestrial habitats have wider and flatter bodies and head and longer forelimbs. These morphological characteristics may allow climbing lizards to keep their centre of mass close to the substrate, while in terrestrial lizards they would enhance maneuverability and support weight during level running.

4 citations

06 Sep 2018
TL;DR: The brown or festive anole, Anolis sagrei Duméril and Bibron, 1837, has arguably become one of the most widespread exotic reptiles worldwide.
Abstract: biodiversity (Mack et al., 2000). Introduced organisms may negatively affect native species and ecosystems, for instance by imposing new competition and predation pressures and introducing new pathogens (e.g. Blackburn et al., 2014; Miaud et al., 2016). Because exotic species are usually difficult to control once they become invasive (Genovesi, 2005), it is important to promptly detect and document new introductions. All over the world, an increasing number of introductions by exotic lizard species have been documented, with successful establishment often leading to major ecological impacts (e.g. Krysko et al., 2004; Engeman et al., 2011; Vasconcelos et al., 2014; Kraus, 2015). This is the case for a number of anole species (Anolis, Dactyloidae), which have been widely reported outside their natural ranges, following human-mediated introductions (e.g. Eales et al., 2008; Nicholson and Richards, 2011; Samelo and Barrela, 2016; Yasumiba et al., 2016). Among them, the brown or festive anole, Anolis sagrei Duméril and Bibron, 1837, has arguably become one of the most widespread exotic reptiles worldwide. Native to Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Cayman islands, Anolis sagrei has been detected as an invasive species in several countries in the Americas and Asia (Greene et al., 2002; Norval et al., 2002; Kolbe et al., 2004; Tan and Lim, 2012; Granatosky and Krysko, 2013; Stroud et al., 2017). Following introductions, this species can reach high population densities and undergo rapid range expansion (Kolbe et al., 2004). In South America, the occurrence of A. sagrei was recently reported for the first time based on specimens found in coastal Ecuador, where it was likely introduced through human-mediated transportation, Herpetology Notes, volume 11: 761-764 (2018) (published online on 06 September 2018)

4 citations


Cites background from "Habitat use and ecological interact..."

  • ...The establishment of brown anole populations elsewhere has led to shifts in substrate use by native anoles (Losos et al., 1993; Stuart et al., 2014), as well as promoted major shifts in the structure of local insect assemblages (Huang et al., 2008b)....

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  • ...These animals perched at heights up to 1.5 m on herbaceous plants, and up to 3.0 m on small trees, which is considered typical for the species (Losos et al., 1993)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Brown trout are significantly larger than same-age cutthroat trout at all ages in both sympatry and allopatry, suggesting that size is an important mechanism of competitive exclusion of cut Throat trout by brown trout.
Abstract: Brown trout Salmo trutta have been introduced into aquatic ecosystems throughout the western United States and have been implicated in the extirpation of many native cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii populations. We document patterns of size-at-age among multiple pop- ulations of brown trout and cutthroat trout in allopatry and sympatry. Comparisons were based on data from 48 allopatric populations (9 brown trout and 39 cutthroat trout) and 2 sympatric popula- tions gathered from published reports and field collections. Brown trout are significantly larger than same-age cutthroat trout at all ages in both sympatry and allopatry. Size-at-age was also sig- nificantly negatively influenced with increasing latitude and elevation. The size-at-age for both species is reduced when in sympatry, but the reduction is more pronounced for brown trout. Cut- throat trout may be able to persist in the presence of brown trout in these instances because of the limited competitive ability of brown trout due to the reduced size, which may be a result of sub- optimal conditions of the habitat. The fact that brown trout are unable to exclude cutthroat trout when growth is restricted suggests that size is an important mechanism of competitive exclusion of cutthroat trout by brown trout.

4 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated the occupancy patterns and niche segregation of five species of lacertids, focusing on large-bodied adults (i.e., adults having >75 mm snout-vent length) that occur in southwestern Europe (Italy to the Iberian Peninsula).
Abstract: South-western Europe has a rich diversity of lacertid lizards In this study, we evaluated the occupancy patterns and niche segregation of five species of lacertids, focusing on large-bodied species (ie, adults having >75 mm snout-vent length) that occur in south-western Europe (Italian to the Iberian Peninsula) We characterized the niches occupied by these species based on climate and vegetation cover properties We expected some commonality among phylogenetically related species, but also patterns of habitat segregation mitigating competition between ecologically equivalent species We used multivariate ordination and probabilistic methods to describe the occupancy patterns and evaluated niche evolution through phylogenetic analyses Our results showed climate niche partitioning, but with a wide overlap in transitional zones, where segregation is maintained by species-specific responses to the vegetation cover The analyses also showed that phylogenetically related species tend to share large parts of their habitat niches The occurrence of independent evolutionary lineages contributed to the regional species richness favored by a long history of niche divergence

4 citations

01 Jan 2016
TL;DR: The ecology and evolution of native versus exotic Caribbean Anolis lizards is contrasted and it is shown that the once strong biogeographic structure in the clade has been altered by the introduction of 22 Anolis species.
Abstract: Long‐distance colonization was once rare causing species within regions to be closely related. Now, in the Anthropocene, biogeographic structure is being eroded by species introductions. Here, we contrast the ecology and evolution of native versus exotic Caribbean Anolis lizards and show that the once strong biogeographic structure in the clade has been altered by the introduction of 22 Anolis species. Anole introductions are more frequent and span greater distances than natural anole colonizations. As a result, exotic anole populations in the Anthropocene often contain more genetic diversity than native populations, and anole phylogenetic diversity on islands is rapidly increasing.

3 citations

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

Journal ArticleDOI
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

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1968-Ecology
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