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Colonization of Euprymna scolopes Squid by Vibrio fischeri
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Published on: March 1, 2012

Ancient colonization predicts recent naturalization in Anolis lizards.

Steven Poe1, J Tomasz Giermakowski, Ian Latella

  • 1Department of Biology and Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131. anolis@unm.edu

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|April 6, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Ancient Anolis lizard colonizers share traits with recently naturalized species, suggesting a general colonizing type. This indicates that naturalization patterns may be partly explained by inherent abilities, not solely human-driven factors.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Biogeography

Background:

  • Species naturalization is often linked to human activities, such as global transport creating new dispersal pathways.
  • Hypotheses suggest naturalized species may have unique traits for human-mediated dispersal or simply accelerated existing ecological/evolutionary forces.
  • A null hypothesis posits no human influence on species naturalization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test whether ancient colonizers share traits with recently naturalized species.
  • To investigate if inherent species characteristics, independent of human interaction, explain naturalization patterns.
  • To reconcile hypotheses on human influence versus general colonizing abilities.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of Anolis lizard species.
  • Examination of characteristics including size, shape, scalation, and phylogeny.
  • Assessment of predictive power of ancient colonizer traits versus naturalized species traits for naturalization.

Main Results:

  • Ancient solitary colonizers of Anolis lizards exhibit shared characteristics (size, shape, scalation, phylogeny) with naturalized Anolis species.
  • Traits of ancient colonizers were nearly as effective as traits of naturalized species in predicting naturalization.
  • Evidence supports the existence of a general Anolis colonizing type.

Conclusions:

  • Contemporary Anolis naturalization patterns are significantly influenced by inherent abilities unrelated to direct human interaction.
  • The concept of a general colonizing type provides a framework for understanding species distributions.
  • Ecological and evolutionary forces, accelerated by human connectivity, play a role, but inherent traits are key predictors.