New Observations on the Mating System of A. schwartzi

Photo of A. schwartzi copyright J. Losos.

This post is for those of you who might not be regular readers of Amphibia-Reptilia. Last summer, Joyce et al. reported on habitat mediated variation in size, population density and mating system in the St. Eustatius (Lesser Antilles) anole A. schwartzi. Joyce et al. quantified body size, density, and frequency of display behaviors in populations of A. schwartzi occupying habitats with and without available rocky substrates. They found denser populations of larger individuals that tend to display more frequently occupying rocky substrates. Their results suggest that the mating system and intensity of competition for mates varies among habitats in a predictable manner. This article is another in a long string of valuable contributions from Bob Powell’s REU courses.