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Niche Adjustment of the Brown Anoles After Introduction of the Curlytail Lizard

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Niche Adjustment of the Brown Anoles After Introduction of the Curlytail Lizard Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College Honors Theses Florida Atlantic University Libraries Year Niche adjustment of the brown anoles after introduction of the curlytail lizard Meghan R. Jameson Florida Atlantic University, This paper is posted at DigitalCommons@Florida Atlantic University. http://digitalcommons.fau.edu/wilkes theses/39 NICHE ADJUSTMENT OF THE BROWN ANOLES AFTER INTRODUCTION OF THE CURLYTAIL LIZARD by Meghan R. Jameson A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Wilkes Honors College in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a Concentration in Biology Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University Jupiter, Florida May 2007 NICHE ADJUSTMENT OF THE BROWN ANOLES AFTER INTRODUCTION OF THE CURLYTAIL LIZARD by Meghan Jameson This thesis was prepared under the direction of the candidate’s thesis advisor, Dr. Jon A. Moore, and has been approved by the members of her/his supervisory committee. It was submitted to the faculty of The Honors College and was accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences. SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE: ____________________________ Dr. Jon A. Moore ____________________________ Dr. Stephanie Fitchett ______________________________ Dean, Wilkes Honors College ____________ Date ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank the professors at the Honors College for supporting me throughout my college experience. If it weren’t for your faith in my abilities, I would not have made it as far as I have. A special thanks to Dr. Moore who has been particularly supportive of my academics. There is so much that I have learned from him in my classes and especially in working with thesis. I am extremely grateful. iii Author: Meghan R. Jameson Title: Niche adjustment of the brown anoles after introduction of the curlytail lizard Institution: Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University Thesis Advisor: Dr. Jon A. Moore Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences Concentration: Biology Year: 2007 Abstract The effects of the recently introduced species, the curlytail lizard, on the Florida ecosystems are relatively unknown. Previous research conducted in the Bahamas showed that brown anole lizards, once introduced to curlytail lizards, became arboreal to evade the threat of the curlytail lizards. To attempt to see if such a niche shift in the brown anole population is occurring in Florida, data were collected using two areas located on the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College of FAU. One area was inhabited by only brown anoles whereas the other area was inhabited by brown anoles and curlytail lizards, the latter which newly invaded this site in 2006. Observations were made by walking through the selected area, and counting and recording all lizards that were visible. Data were collected at specific times during the day, four times a day. After comparing the two locations, it was found that the brown anoles have become arboreal when sharing an environment with curlytail lizards. iv Table of Contents List of Tables…………..........................................................................................vi List of Figures.................................................................................................…...vii Introduction……………………………………………………………………..…1 Brown Anoles………………………………………………………….….1 Curlytail Lizards……………………………………………………..……2 Curlytail Impact on Anoles...................................................................…...4 Survey Sites……………………………………………………………………….6 Methods…………………………………………………………….……………...8 Results………………………………...………………………….………………10 Discussion……………………………………………………….……………….13 Elevation…………………………………………………………………14 Predation…………………………………………………………………15 Future Studies……………………………………………………………………17 Appendix……........................................................................................................18 References………………………………………………………………………..24 v List of Tables Table 1…………………………………………………………………………...18 A table that includes the recorded data and gives total amount of lizard observations. Table 2…………………………………………………………………………...21 A table that specifies the perch characteristics of the recorded lizards vi List of figures 1. Brown Anole………………………………………………………………………2 2. Green Anole……………………………………………………………………….2 3. Curlytail…………………………………………………………………………...4 4. Curlytail eating a brown anole…………………………………………………….5 Photographs: Pictures taken by Schoener, Slade, and Stinson in the Bahamas. Photos of Curlytail Lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus armouri) eating a Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei). 5. Hibel building circle………………………………………………………………6 6. Patio……………………………………………………………………………….7 Please note: The map shown for the location behind the Burrow is an older aerial photograph and does not show the concrete that makes up the patio. 7. Brown Anole experimental population graph.…………………………………..12 8. Brown anole control population graph…………………………………………..12 vii Introduction The effects of the curlytail lizard on the existing ecosystem in Florida are still relatively unknown. A previous study in the Bahamas deliberately introduced curlytail lizards into environments they did not formerly inhabit. The purpose of the study was to see the effects that the curlytail lizards would have on the native brown anole lizards (Losos et. al., 2004). Other studies had found that brown anole populations moved higher up in the trees and surrounding shrubbery when presented with the curlytail lizard. Using twelve islands situated in the Bahamas, the researchers released curlytail lizards on half of the islands (Losos et. al., 2004). Previously these twelve islands were inhabited only by native brown anole species. The study showed that initially, and after a period of six months, the brown anoles became progressively more arboreal (Losos et. al., 2004). In Florida, the brown anole population becoming arboreal would interrupt the habitat of the native lizard, the green anole. This study provides additional evidence that local brown anole populations have indeed become arboreal, and the brown anoles’ upward shift is due to predatory habits of the curlytail lizard. Brown Anole Brown anoles ( Anolis sagrei ) are native lizards of Cuba. This type of lizard is a small, slender lizard that is generally found on or near the ground close to structural environments (Losos et. al., 2004). Males, which are 51-62 mm in snout-vent length, are larger than females, which are 38-48 mm in snout-vent length (Salzburg 1984). There is also a color difference between the sexes: males have a dark stripe down their backs and females have a light stripe down their backs. Brown anoles generally eat 1 larger inscects and will sometimes eat fruit (Schoener & Schoener 1982). Members of the Anolis family have a dewlap under their necks which can range in colors. Brown anoles are of the same genus as the only native polychrotid lizard to the United States, the green anole ( Anolis carolinensis ). The green anole and the brown anole are similar in size, but it has been noted that the green anole perches significantly higher in the trees than do the brown anoles (Salzburg 1984). Green anoles are generally trunk-crown dwelling lizards but they move higher into the trees once the brown anoles are introduced (Schoener & Schoener 1982). Brown anoles have been known to eat green anole juveniles and hatchlings (Gerber & Echternacht 2000). It is not evident that the green anoles eat the young of brown anoles. The brown anole was first intrduced to Florida during the 1940’s and has since spread throughout most of Florida (Lee 1985). Figure 1. Brown Anole Figure 2. Green Anole (Photo courtesy Animal World, 2007) Curlytail Lizard The curlytail lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus armouri) is a lizard species native to the islands of Little Bahama Bank (Schwartz and Henderson 1991, Schwartz and Thomas 1975). Curlytail lizards are medium sized terrestrial lizards that prefer to be in a rocky, open environment. In Florida, sidewalks and other pathways, including 2 staircases, near human infrastructure are suitable habitats for the curlytail lizard. Curlytail lizards can be seen in a range of colors. Males average 90 mm (+/- 3 mm) in snout-vent length and females average 88 mm (+/- 6 mm) in snout-vent length (Schoener et al., 1982). The name of this lizard comes from the way the lizard holds its tail when it feels threatened: it curls its tail up (Cooper, 2001). The curlytail lizard is mainly insectivorous, but also eats fruits and flowers and on occasion has been noted to eat brown anoles (Schoener et. al., 1982). In the 1940’s, twenty pairs of this species were brought to the island of Palm Beach and they were intentionally released (Weigl, et al. 1969). By 1959, the curlytail lizard had spread over an area of 20 square blocks (King 1960, Weigl, et al. 1969). The curlytail lizards quickly spread throughout the rest of the island. By 1975, there were several groups that were firmly established on the Florida mainland near the Flagler Bridge, which connects Palm Beach Island to the mainland (Callahan 1982). Curlytail lizards expanded throughout the Florida east coast and currently have been spotted as far north as Brevard County (Hauge & Butterfield 2000, Smith & Engeman 2002, Dean et al. 2004) and as far south as the Florida Keys (Smith et al. 2004). There are also reports that the curlytail lizard has reached the west coast, with sightings in Collier County (McCoid 2002) and Lee County (Campbell & Klowden 2004). 3 Figure 3. Curlytail
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