Meeting Abstract

96.2  Wednesday, Jan. 7  How similar are aquatic Anolis lizards: a detailed ecological and behavioral analysis of two Costa Rican species (A. oxylophus and A. aquaticus). MUNOZ, Martha/M*; HERREL, Anthony; SASA, Mahmood; LOSOS, Jonathan; Harvard University mmunoz@fas.harvard.edu

Anolis lizards of the Greater Antilles have become a model system for the study of adaptive radiations as species living in ecologically similar habitats have convergently evolved similar morphologies. However, some ecologically similar species such as aquatic anoles appear not to converge upon a single morphology. Yet, it remains currently unclear to what the degree these aquatic species utilize similar microhabitats within their stream-side habitat. As convergence can only be expected if selective pressures are similar, detailed ecological, behavioral and performance data are crucial to understand the lack of convergence among these aquatic species. Here we provide such data for two aquatic Anolis lizards from Costa Rica, A. oxylophus and A. aquaticus which have independently radiated into stream-side habitats. Preliminary analyses suggest that both species are morphologically distinct, behave differently, and use different structural microhabitats with A. aquaticus showing a clear preference for rocky substrates. Species also differ in locomotor performance (sprint speed) and bite force capacity and forage in different microhabitats. Future studies incorporating quantitative ecological and behavioral data for additional species living in stream-side habitats are clearly needed to gain better insights into the lack of convergence in the aquatic anoles.