Abstract
Introduced species usually fail to establish, but when they succeed, may undergo character release and rapid evolutionary divergence in novel environments. We collected brown anoles (Anolis sagrei: Lacertilia: Iguanidae) from a single Florida population and released them onto two ecologically different dredge-spoil islands in central Florida (forested and non-forested) and measured differences in population growth, individual growth, body size, and condition over four years. The population on the non-forested island expanded twice as fast as the forested island population and reached a density of ca. 12,000 lizards ha−1 and a biomass of ca. 43.3 kg ha−1, among the largest values recorded for non-aggregated terrestrial vertebrates. First-year progeny grew larger than their surviving parents on both islands, indicating character release occurred in early stages of both invasions. However, in subsequent years, lizards became larger on the forested island, but smaller on the non-forested island. Body condition declined over time on both islands, but the effect was most dramatic on the non-forested island. Lizards on the forested island had the lowest survival rates and highest tail autotomy frequencies. These results were attributed to differences in abiotic and biotic conditions on the two islands. Brown anoles are generally larger on islands where they have been introduced than on their native Caribbean islands, and are much larger on mainlands than on islands, indicating character release occurred at larger geographic scales as well. Habitat influences the morphology of introduced species possessing the ability to rapidly adapt to local conditions, presenting invasive species managers with ‘moving targets’.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.