Osteological differences among populations of the Puerto Rico bush anole (Anolis pulchellus)


SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING (VAM)
January 3 – Febuary 28, 2021

Meeting Abstract


P19-7  Sat Jan 2  Osteological differences among populations of the Puerto Rico bush anole (Anolis pulchellus) Doucet, DS*; Herrera-Martínez, A; Campbell, TL; Daza, JD; Sam Houston State University; Texas Invasive Species Institute, SHSU; Baylor University; Sam Houston State University dsd020@shsu.edu http://geckolab.weebly.com

The Puerto Rico bush anole, Anolis pulchellus, is very widespread species in the island of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (except St. Croix). Previous studies (morphological and molecular) indicate that this species exhibit considerable variation among populations. This research is a follow up of an unpublished data set based on external morphology. Here we measured 8 cranial and postcranial variables using digital x-rays of 35 specimens across the distributional range of the species. Digital x-rays were obtained using a Thermo Scientific™ PXS5-927 Micro Focus 90kV X-Ray Source and Amorphous Silicon Digital X-Ray Detector, and linear measurements were gathered using ImageJ. Linear measurements were first log transformed, size was calculated as the geometric mean (GM) and shape variables were produced (as scaled proportions) by dividing log distances by the GM. Newly generated shape variables were then subjected to a PCA to explore the influence of each variable on the total variance explained. Additionally, resulting PC scores were then used in a MANOVA to test for differences in shape between mainland and island populations. Results from our analysis showed that these populations do indeed separate using the variables selected (ᴧ=0.1206; P< 0.001). Using the linear measurements, we found marked differences between the Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. This is a preliminary analysis, and we plan on combining this data set with data from the integument. Cranial scale counts, lamellae counts, and skeletal measurements have the potential to add more resolution to the morphological differences between populations of Anolis pulchellus.

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