A comparison of habitat use, morphology, clinging performance and escape behaviour among two divergent green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis) populations

We measured available and actual habitat use, morphology, escape behaviour and clinging ability in a large sample(N = 242) of green anoles, Anolis carolinensis, in a habitat consisting primarily of segregated dense clumps of broadleaves, Aspidistra elatior (Tulane University campus, LA) to compare against similar data collected previously froma more typical habitat c. 30 km away, consisting of continuous strands of bushes and trees (Good Hope Field, St.Charles Parish, LA). At Tulane the anoles perched primarily on the broad, smooth leaves of broad leaves, whereasin Good Hope Field (GHF) they predominantly perched on branches and tree trunks. The two populations differedsignificantly in morphology. In Tulane, the anoles tended to have shorter distal hindlimb elements, longer forelimbelements, and were more ‘slender’ than those at GHF. A comparison of escape behaviour showed population and sexdifferences. In both populations, females had significantly longer approach distances (i.e. were more ‘wary’) thanmales. These distances were, in addition, significantly longer at GHF than at Tulane for both sexes; this may be dueto the potentially higher diversity and abundance of predators at GHF, although habituation to humans may alsoplay a role. Anoles at Tulane had significantly larger toepads and higher clinging abilities than those at GHF. Theenhanced clinging abilities of anoles at Tulane may have arisen due to their propensity to use smooth leaves as theirprimary substrate. Overall, our data reveal substantial ecological, behavioural, morphological, and functional dif-ferences among populations, some of which may be adaptive.