Author: Dorothy Patent

Getting Anole Research “Out There”: New Book on Anole Lizard Research for Schoolkids

 

I enjoyed visiting with anole researchers for my book “The Lizard Scientists” so much that I wanted to give nonscientists an example of the hard work it takes to learn about how Nature functions. I focused on James Stroud’s research as a good illustration of “what it takes” to study Nature in meaningful ways. Take a look at DorothyPatent.substack.com for ‘How Scientists “Do” Science’ and pass it on.

I’m now living on Kaua’i, where A. sagrei thrives in a number of environments. For example, I see almost totally black individuals on the long black volcanic rock walls along a walking path and long-tailed basically brown ones with a bright yellowish stripe along their backs along the paths bordered by dense vegetation. I know they can modify their colors depending on the background, but still, It looks to me like what one might call “secondary evolution” is going on.

My Research Trip to Florida to gather Info for The Lizard Scientists

I thought you anole lovers might like to read the post I wrote about my research trip to Florida for my book “The Lizard Scientists” for my colleague Caroline Arnold’s blog “The Intrepid Tourist.

A student at the school found this anole egg and showed it to me–great find!

I was hardly a tourist, but rather a lizard-loving author sweating in the Florida sun while observing James Stroud and Kamau Walker capture, measure, take notes, etc. about the anoles living on Jame’s research island in the Fairchild Gardens. There’s a chapter in the book devoted to James’ research.

I also joined photographer/anole researcher Neil Losin to photograph some different anoles near Parkland and visited a school where students gathered population info on anoles on their school ground.

The whole trip was great, and I went home impressed by the hard work and the cheerful enthusiasm of everyone for these lovable lizards.

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