Brown anole on a tree. Picture by Austin Garner.
Urbanization has launched man-made substrates like metallic rods and plastics into anole habitats. So, how does this shift within the ecosystem have an effect on the locomotion of anole lizards that depend on the intermolecular forces between their adhesive toepads and substrates? At SICB 2025, Austin Garner, assistant professor at Syracuse College, introduced his analysis the place he explored this with Maxwell Handen and Maya Philips by wanting on the climbing efficiency (ascending and descending) of two anole species: inexperienced anoles (Anolis carolinensis) and brown anoles (Anolis sagrei).
They investigated two major questions:
- How do pure and concrete populations of inexperienced anoles differ of their morphology?
- How do morphological variations correspond to climbing efficiency of city populations of inexperienced anoles and brown anoles?
A digital X-ray system was used to find out forelimb and hindlimb lengths. Aligning with earlier analysis, the city populations of each inexperienced and brown anoles had been discovered to have longer forelimbs whereas brown anoles additionally had longer hindlimbs in comparison with the pure inhabitants of inexperienced anoles after accounting for physique measurement.
The results of those variations in morphology had been evaluated by measuring and evaluating the common and most climbing speeds of the populations utilizing high-speed videography as they ascended and descended 45° and 90° inclines (picket dowels lined with window screening mesh to allow strong clinging). Curiously, pure populations of inexperienced anoles weren’t influenced by both the inclines or the operating orientation, in contrast to the city populations, which had been considerably affected by the operating orientation. City inexperienced anoles exhibited a discount in velocity as they moved downwards, which is smart as a result of they use their limbs as brakes. City brown anoles confirmed larger velocity when climbing up, which is attributed to their longer and extra muscular hindlimbs. Equally, their descending locomotor efficiency was additionally lowered, particularly when the floor was 90°. This implies that higher descending efficiency could require shorter strides enabled by shorter hindlimbs.
Garner is presently engaged on understanding and measuring the limb kinematics related to the climbing and descending performances of those anole populations to make clear their actual locomotor mechanisms, so keep tuned for these outcomes!
Undergraduate Pupil at Mississippi College for Ladies
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