Anolis homolechis
From 2009, we have investigated the evolution and ecology of Anolis lizards in Cuba, collaborating with Habana University and The National Museum and Natural History of Cuba. Prof. Losos asked us to describe our research projects in Cuba for communication among anole biologists. Thus, we would like to inform our ongoing projects on Anolis lizards in Cuba, and we are very grateful if you have any suggestions and comments on our projects. Also, your suggestion of collaborating research projects will be welcome.
1. Searching for the genetic basis determining differences in hindlimb length between the trunk-ground anole A. sagrei and the twig anole A. angusticeps. Similar to Sanger et al. (2012), we have tried to determine the developmental timing for divergence of hindlimb length between twig and trunk-ground anoles. The manuscript on this subject was submitted and is now under review.
2. The effects of microhabitat use, range expansion and the number of speciation events on local species richness of trunk-ground Anolis lizards in Cuba. We examined the species richness and thermal microhabitat partitioning (considered to be a measure of ecological interaction) of 12 trunk-ground anole species in 11 local assemblages in Cuba, covering nearly the entire geographic range of all these species. Our results suggest that the species composition and richness in local assemblages could be explained by both evolutionary history (the number of speciation events and limits to range expansion) and ecological processes (habitat partitioning). This research is a part of Ph.D. thesis of Antonio Cadiz (Tohoku University and Havana University). The manuscript on this subject was accepted by Ecosphere and will be available soon.
3. We reconstructed a phylogeny using almost all Cuban Anolis lizards and also analyzed the genetic distances between populations within Cuban islands for these species. This project aims not only to construct the comprehensive phylogeny, but to understand ecomorph evolution within Cuban island.
4. Genetic basis for adaptation to different thermal environments. Multiple trunk-ground species can coexist since they inhabit different thermal environments. Anolis sagrei was found in open locations with high levels of light intensity and temperature. In contrast, A. allogus was found in shaded locations within forests with low levels of both light and temperature. Anolis homolechis was typically found at the edges of forests or in open locations in forests with intermediate environmental conditions. We try to examine genetic basis for these different thermal adaptation by using both a candidate gene approach and whole transcriptome analysis.
5. Other research projects will be started this year, although we do not specify the detailed plan.
In addition to Cuban Anoles, we are investigating the evolution of Anolis carolinensis introduced into the Bonin islands (Ogasawara islands) about 50 years ago (from either Guam, Hawaii or Florida).
Masakado Kawata, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan (kawata ‘at’ m.tohoku.ac.jp)
- Interspecific Differences in Genetic Divergence among Populations of Anolis Lizards in Cuba - August 17, 2018
- Behavioral and TRPA1 Heat Sensitivities in Three Sympatric Cuban Anolis Lizards - April 1, 2018
- Factors Restricting Range Expansion for the Invasive Green Anole Anolis carolinensis on Okinawa Island, Japan - May 19, 2017
Thomas Sanger
Wow. It seems like you have a lot of interesting projects underway. I wish you the best of luck. What I wouldn’t do for an endless supply of twig anoles…
Antonio Cadiz
Thanks for your comments. Yes, it is challenging to collect twig anoles, they are very shy. They see you before you see them… it takes time. But it is worthwhile… they very interesting!