Meeting Abstract
The Island of Dominica is currently home to two species of anole, the endemic Dominican Anole (Anolis oculatus), and the invasive Puerto Rican Crested Anole (Anolis cristatellus). While some populations of the native lizard seem to experience minimal deleterious effects of the invasive, others appear to be extirpated from areas where they are present. We measured ecological and physiological variables for these species to determine differences between the two anoles as well as differences among and within populations for each species. Here I discuss variation among different populations of Anolis oculatus and how those differences may influence their ability to compete and/or coexist with Anolis cristatellus. I also present evidence for local adaptation to temperature by Anolis cristatellus, which may allow them to eventually inhabit all but the most extreme environments on the island. While our knowledge of these species’ biology remains incomplete, we are beginning to gain a better understanding of underlying factors affecting interspecific interactions, intraspecific variation, and the extent of their ranges on Dominica.
