Abstract
Invasive species are a global threat to biodiversity. Cases where the invasion has been tracked since its beginning are rare, however, such that the first interactions between invasive and native species remain poorly understood. Communication behavior is an integral part of species identity and is subject to selection. Consequently, resource use and direct interference competition between native and invasive species may drive its evolution. Here, we tested the role of interactions between the recently introduced invasive lizard Anolis cristatellus and the native Anolis oculatus on variation in behavior and communication in Calibishie (Dominica). From May to June 2016, we filmed 122 adult males of both species displaying in banana farms under two contexts (allopatry and sympatry). We then recorded (i) the proportion of time spent displaying and (ii) the relative frequency of dewlap vs. push-up displays. To control for habitat variation, we measured and compared the habitat characteristics (canopy openness and habitat openness) of 228 males in allopatry and sympatry. While the habitat characteristics and total display-time did not differ between the contexts for the two species, the proportion of display-time spent dewlapping by A. cristatellus decreased in sympatry. The display of A. oculatus did not differ between the contexts, however. Shifts in microhabitat use, predation pressure, or interspecific interference are potential factors which might explain the behavioral changes in display observed in A. cristatellus. This study highlights the role of behavioral traits as a first response of an invasive species to recent competition with a closely related native species.
Highlights
Invasive species are a global threat to biodiversity, driving species to extinction and imperiling ecosystems (Parmesan, 2006; Van der Putten, 2012)
The recent arrival of A. cristatellus in Calibishie–2014—and the fact that we recorded extremely low population densities of A. oculatus in some banana farms suggest that the allopatric populations of the invasive species result from its establishment in naturally unoccupied banana farms
The proportion of display-time spent dewlapping vs. performing push-up displays was significantly lower in sympatry compared to allopatry for A. cristatellus
Summary
Invasive species are a global threat to biodiversity, driving species to extinction and imperiling ecosystems (Parmesan, 2006; Van der Putten, 2012). Understanding how invasive species successfully establish in new environments and their impacts on native species have become some of the main contemporary challenges. Only rarely are invasions tracked from their beginning. How to cite this article Dufour et al (2018), The effect of recent competition between the native Anolis oculatus and the invasive A. cristatellus on display behavior. Recent species invasions constitute an important field of research in evolutionary conservation biology by providing a natural experimental setting to test the role of interspecific competition on species evolution in action
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