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: Little support is found for the notion that rich avifaunas in themselves repel the establishment of avian invaders at the level of whole islands or archipelagoes, and interactions between established exotics and natives may be influencing habitat distributions of species in both sets within islands.
234 citations
TL;DR: The hypothesis that interspecific competition has been the driving force behind the evolutionary radiation of Anolis lizards in the Caribbean is examined by examining the four lines of evidence supported by this hypothesis.
Abstract: Two approaches characterize the study of evolutionary ecology. Prospective studies investigate how present-day ecological processes may lead to evolutionary change; retrospective studies ask how present-day ecological conditions can be understood as the outcome of historical events. I argue that the most appropriate test of an evolutionary ecological hypothesis requires an integration of these approaches. I illustrate this approach by examining the hypothesis that interspecific competition has been the driving force behind the evolutionary radiation of Anolis lizards in the Caribbean. This hypothesis is supported by four lines of evidence: 1. Anole communities are structured by competition; 2. Populations alter resource use in the presence of congeners; 3. Microevolutionary adaptation occurs in response to resource shifts; and 4. Macroevolutionary patterns are consistent with interspecific competition as the driving force behind anole adaptive radiation.
210 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that sexual differences contribute substantially to the ecomorphological diversity produced by the adaptive radiations of West Indian Anolis lizards: within anole species, males and females occupy mostly non-overlapping parts of morphological space; the overall extent of sexual variation is large relative to interspecific variation; and the degree of variation depends on ecological type.
Abstract: A major task in biology is explaining patterns of biodiversity. Sexual differences in form are pervasive, yet factors promoting sexual dimorphism are rarely considered in studies of species diversity. Similarly, ecological and evolutionary factors governing community-level diversity are rarely invoked to explain the degree to which the sexes can differ. A study of the Anolis lizard, a classic example of adaptive radiation, with colonies on the islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico, now shows that sexual differences are major contributors to morphological diversification in adaptive radiation. This suggests a model of how sexual dimorphism and adaptive radiation interact, a model that can be put to the test by observations of the native and introduced anoles in Florida. Sexual dimorphism has not been integrated into studies of adaptive radiation, despite the potential for the two sexes to occupy different niches. This paper reports that sexual differences contribute substantially to the ecomorphological diversity produced by the adaptive radiations of West Indian anolis lizards. Sexual dimorphism is widespread and substantial throughout the animal world1,2. It is surprising, then, that such a pervasive source of biological diversity has not been integrated into studies of adaptive radiation, despite extensive and growing attention to both phenomena1,3,4,5,6,7. Rather, most studies of adaptive radiation either group individuals without regard to sex or focus solely on one sex. Here we show that sexual differences contribute substantially to the ecomorphological diversity produced by the adaptive radiations of West Indian Anolis lizards: within anole species, males and females occupy mostly non-overlapping parts of morphological space; the overall extent of sexual variation is large relative to interspecific variation; and the degree of variation depends on ecological type. Thus, when sexual dimorphism in ecologically relevant traits is substantial, ignoring its contribution may significantly underestimate the adaptive component of evolutionary radiation. Conversely, if sexual dimorphism and interspecific divergence are alternative means of ecological diversification, then the degree of sexual dimorphism may be negatively related to the extent of adaptive radiation.
196 citations
TL;DR: The patterns suggest that overwater dispersal among geologically distinct islands and island banks is relatively infrequent in anoles and has contributed to allopatric speciation, and that large Greater Antillean islands serve as centres of origin for regional species diversity.
Abstract: Overwater dispersal and subsequent allopatric speciation contribute importantly to the species diversity of West Indian Anolis lizards and many other island radiations. Here we use molecular phylogenetic analyses to assess the contribution of overwater dispersal to diversification of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup, a clade comprising nine canopy-dwelling species distributed across the northern Caribbean. Although this clade includes some of the most successful dispersers and colonists in the anole radiation, the taxonomic status and origin of many endemic populations have been ambiguous. New mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences from four species occurring on small islands or island banks ( Anolis brunneus , Anolis longiceps , Anolis maynardi , Anolis smaragdinus ) and one species from the continental United States ( A. carolinensis ) are presented and analysed with homologous sequences sampled from related species on Cuba ( Anolis allisoni and Anolis porcatus ). Our analyses confirm that all five non-Cuban species included in our study represent distinct, independently evolving lineages that warrant continued species recognition. Moreover, our results support Ernest Williams’s hypothesis that all of these species originated by overseas colonization from Cuban source populations. However, contrary to Williams’s hypothesis of Pleistocene dispersal, most colonization events leading to speciation apparently occurred earlier, in the late Miocene–Pliocene. These patterns suggest that overwater dispersal among geologically distinct islands and island banks is relatively infrequent in anoles and has contributed to allopatric speciation. Finally, our results suggest that large Greater Antillean islands serve as centres of origin for regional species diversity.
152 citations
Cites background from "Habitat use and ecological interact..."
...Phylogeographical studies of anoles on Cuba and Hispaniola (Glor et al. 2003; Kolbe et al. 2004) and patterns of anole species diversity (e.g. Williams 1969; Losos et al. 1993) suggest that established populations often prevent close relatives from expanding into their territories....
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Tel Aviv University1, Villanova University2, University of Brasília3, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak4, Central Connecticut State University5, University of Valle6, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens7, University of Lincoln8, Imperial College London9, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador10, Virginia Commonwealth University11, University of Antwerp12
TL;DR: A large (861 species) global dataset of lizard body temperatures was used, and the mean annual temperatures across their geographic ranges were examined to examine the relationships between body andmean annual temperatures.
Abstract: Aim Temperature influences most components of animal ecology and life history ‐ but what kind of temperature? Physiologists usually examine the influence of body temperatures, while biogeographers and macroecologists tend to focus on environmental temperatures. We aim to examine the relationship between these two measures, to determine the factors that affect lizard body temperatures and to test the effect of both temperature measures on lizard life history. Location World-wide. Methods We used a large (861 species) global dataset of lizard body temperatures,and the mean annual temperatures across their geographic ranges to examine the relationships between body and mean annual temperatures.We then examined factors influencing body temperatures, and tested for the influence of both on ecological and life-history traits while accounting for the influence of shared ancestry. Results Body temperatures and mean annual temperatures are uncorrelated. However, accounting for activity time (nocturnal species have low body temperatures), use of space (fossorial and semi-aquatic species are ‘colder’), insularity (mainland species are ‘hotter’) and phylogeny, the two temperatures are positively correlated. High body temperatures are only associated with larger hatchlings and increased rates of biomass production. Annual temperatures are positively correlated with clutch frequency and annual longevity, and negatively correlated with clutch size, age at first reproduction and longevity.
127 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
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