Differences in growth rate, body condition, habitat use and food availability between island and mainland lizard populations ofAnolis nebulosusin Jalisco, Mexico

Abstract

Differences in growth rate, body condition, habitat use and food availability between island and mainland lizard populations of Anolis nebulosus in Jalisco, MexicoAbstract: Lizards of the genus Anolis have been widely studied, however, little is known about the effects of environmental seasonality, food availability and geographic isolation on body condition, growth rate and habitat use of lizards. The existence of an insular and a continental population of Anolis nebulosus (clouded anole), separated by only 0.47 km, represents an ideal opportunity to address this topic. We compared seasonal fluctuations in food availability (arthropod density) for anoles, as well as body condition, growth rate and habitat use in the two populations. Food availability throughout the year was sampled every 2 mo by trapping arthropods at each site. Lizards were also monitored and measured every 2 mo by surveying three quadrats in each site over 2 y giving a total of 30 visits for each quadrat. Results suggested that composition and density of food supply was similar for the two populations. Nevertheless, food supply responded to seasonality of rainfall, with an increase of 1.5 times during the rainy season. Despite similarity in food availability, insular anoles had body condition that was 5-10 times better, with growth rate twice as fast, and used similar perches. The role of predation, and inter-and intraspecific competition are discussed as possible drivers.

Ecology of the growth of Anolis nebulosus (Squamata: Dactyloidae) in a seasonal tropical environment in the Chamela region, Jalisco, Mexico

“…Size at sexual maturity and the maximum size reached by males and females in both years were similar to those reported by Siliceo‐Cantero and García (). These authors, however, do not report details of growth in different age classes or any effect of season or year.…”

“…Size at sexual maturity and the maximum size reached by males and females in both years were similar to those reported by Siliceo-Cantero and García (2014 (Wang et al, 2011) and devote most of their energy intake to reproduction, survival, movement, and feeding (Ramírez-Bautista & Vitt, 1997;Woolrich-Piña, Smith, Lemos-Espinal, & Ramírez-Silva, 2015). Roff and Fairbairn (2007) (Warne & Charnov, 2008).…”

Dimorphism and divergence in island and mainland Anoles

“…Siliceo‐Cantero & Garcia () recently published a comparison of the San Agustín and mainland populations of A. nebulosus with respect to growth rate, body condition, habitat use and food availability. While habitat use matched the data presented here, results for arthropod abundance are not comparable due to differences in methodology.…”

“…Besides the research reported here, and related work by Senczuk et al . (), Siliceo‐Cantero & Garcia () and Hernandez‐Salinas, Ramirez‐Bautista & Pavon (), only two other studies have compared the adaptive divergence of an island Anolis population with an ancestral mainland population (Klutsch et al ., ; Logan et al ., ). Both of these latter studies focused on Anolis lemurinus in the Bay Islands of Honduras, and morphological comparisons were limited to dewlap and body size.…”

Huracán Jova: efecto de un fenómeno meteorológico severo sobre lagartijas insulares en el occidente de México

“…Esta estacionalidad ambiental también se refleja en la disponibilidad de recursos para las especies animales, entre los que se encuentran: sitios de termorregulación, refugios, alimento y agua, entre otros, los cuales se incrementan durante la temporada de lluvias (Ceballos y Miranda, 2000;García y Ceballos, 1994). En la región, son diversos los estudios ecológicos que incluyen a la estacionalidad como uno de los factores que influyen sobre las poblaciones de lagartijas (Gienger et al, 2002; Siliceo-Cantero y García, 2014;Valtierra-Azotla et al, 2010). Un estudio reciente (Maass et al, 2017) que analiza la dinámica hidrológica en la región de la costa de Jalisco, reporta un incremento reciente en la precipitación anual y en la duración de la estación de lluvias, así como mayor frecuencia en la formación de huracanes.…”