Meeting Abstract
Anolis lizards are a model system for how microhabitat can shape morphology, ecology, and behavior of individuals and communities. It is believed that the Anolis ecomorphs of the Greater Antilles are specialized for specific regions of the arboreal habitat because of differences in the locomotor demands inherent to each region. However, despite the fact that muscles are primarily responsible for powering their locomotion, it is unclear whether the physiology or control of these muscles varies between ecomorphs to facilitate this specialization. Using synchronized electromyography and high-speed video of animals running on broad and narrow perches inclined at 0o, 30o, and 90o, we examine the activity patterns of four fore- and hind limb muscles in five Anolis species: A. evermanni and A. carolinensis (trunk-crown ecomorph), A. cristatellus and A. gundlachi (trunk-ground ecomorph), and A. equestris (crown giant ecomorph). Overall, all species tend to have greater levels of motor unit recruitment on steeper inclines than on level surfaces. Similarly, activity of the puboischiotibialis generally increased on narrow surfaces compared to broad surfaces in all species. However, there are some key differences between species. For example, gastrocnemius activity was generally equal or slightly elevated on the narrower surface compared to the broad surface in trunk-ground species, whereas recruitment tended to decrease on the narrow surface compared to broad surface in trunk-crown and crown-giant species. These data will significantly advance our understanding of how neuromuscular function can become specialized to allow successful locomotion in the Anolis ecomorphs, as well as providing insights into behavioral sources of muscle plasticity.
