Comparison of locomotor performance & hind limb morphology between Anolis carolinensis and Anolis sagrei, related to the invasion of non-native A. sagrei in Florida

Buran, Kasey

Comparison of locomotor performance & hind limb morphology between Anolis carolinensis and Anolis sagrei, related to the invasion of non-native A. sagrei in Florida

Persistent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10456/26344

Author(s)

Buran, Kasey

Date Issued

April 27, 2012

Abstract

While Anolis lizards have been extensively researched as the focus of many different topics, aspects of fitness as they relate to the biological invasion of Anolis sagrei in Florida have yet to be investigated. Much is known about both A. sagrei and its invasion into the native habitat of A. carolinensis, but little is known about exactly which aspects of A. sagrei’s performance assisted in the success of its invasion. The objective of this study is to compare the ability of locomotor performance and a variable that influences locomotor performance, hind limb length, between A. sagrei and Anolis carolinensis, and then to expand on similar previous research by relating this comparison to the successful invasion of A. sagrei into Florida, the native habitat of A. carolinensis. The specific aspects of locomotor performance to be compared are sprint speed and climbing speed. Hind limb morphology was compared using the traits femur length, tibia length, metatarsus length, knee extensor muscle mass, and toepad area. Results show that there is no significant difference in sprint speed or climbing speed between A. sagrei and A. carolinensis. However, femur length and tibia length are significantly larger in A. sagrei. Results suggest that metatarsus length and knee extensor muscle mass are also larger in A. sagrei, but that toepad area is larger in A. carolinensis. As increased hind limb length has been correlated with increased sprint speed (Losos, 1990a; Losos, 1990b; Losos and Sinervo, 1989), the opposing results of this study to this trend suggests that sprint speed was not significantly instrumental to A. sagrei’s invasion into Florida, and therefore may not be an ability that is substantially relevant to a species’ survival or fitness.

First Reader(s)

Whitenack, Lisa B.