JONATHAN LOSOS
Evolutionary ecology of Anolis lizards
http://www.oeb.harvard.edu/faculty/losos
Matt Brady
25 April, 2013
Monday, April 29, 13
BIOGRAPHY
Born December 7th, 1961 in St Louis, Missouri
AB from Harvard, 1980-84
PhD from UC Berkeley, 1984-89
Ecomorphological adaptation in the genus
Anolis
Post-doc at UC Davis, 1990-92
Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, Washington University
(St Louis), 1992-2006
Director of Tyson Research Center 2000-2003
and 2004-2005
Monique and Philip Lehner Professor for the Study of Latin
America, Harvard University
Curator of Herpetology, Harvard Museum of Comparative
Zoology
Monday, April 29, 13
BIOGRAPHY, CON’T
Lots of awards
Lots of research papers (14 pages!)
First paper examining Anolis was in 1989 with Barry Sinervo
After 1990, most papers were on Anolis
Lots of other written work: textbooks, general interest books, popular articles, white literature
27 PhD Students, 17 Post-docs, 39 Undergrads
Monday, April 29, 13
The Genus Anolis
Most specious
genus of amniotes:
400+ species
150 species in the
Caribbean
Six ecomorphs in
Caribbean Anolis
Perfect for
studying how
niche and habitat
relate to evolution
Did ecomorphs evolve independently on
each island? Or are they the result of
radiations?
Monday, April 29, 13
Proposal to sequence the first Reptilian Genome
Proposal authored by Losos
submitted to NIH in 2005
Genome completed in 2011,
published in Nature, along
with a comparative analysis
with birds and mammals.
First non-mammal or bird
genome sequenced
Important because reptiles are
basal to mammals and birds.
Thus, comparative genomics
can be performed.
Engaged in comparative study with mammals
http://www.oeb.harvard.edu/faculty/losos/
Monday, April 29, 13
Evolution of Ecomorphs
Six general ecomorphs have been identified in Caribbean Anolis
Twig
Grass-bush
Trunk-crown
Crown-giant
Trunk-ground
Trunk
http://lacertilia.com
Monday, April 29, 13
Evolution of Ecomorphs
Generally no more than six species at any
given location, but up to 11 present at some
Cuban sites; little overlap in niche between
species.
Phylogenetic analyses indicate that
speciation, not immigration, accounts for
diversity on the Greater Antilles.
Ecomorphs arose independently on each
major island group in the Greater Antilles.
Monday, April 29, 13
Evolution of Ecomorphs
Generally no more than six species at any
given location, but up to 11 present at some
Cuban sites; little overlap in niche between
species.
Phylogenetic analyses indicate that
speciation, not immigration, accounts for
diversity on the Greater Antilles.
Ecomorphs arose independently on each
major island group in the Greater Antilles.
....In other words, species doing the same
thing on different islands are not each others
closest relatives, but the result of four
separate evolutionary events!
Monday, April 29, 13
Evolution of Ecomorphs
Generally no more than six species at any
given location, but up to 11 present at some
Cuban sites; little overlap in niche between
species.
Phylogenetic analyses indicate that
speciation, not immigration, accounts for
diversity on the Greater Antilles.
Ecomorphs arose independently on each
major island group in the Greater Antilles.
....In other words, species doing the same
thing on different islands are not each others
closest relatives, but the result of four
separate evolutionary events!
Monday, April 29, 13
Evolution of Ecomorphs
Generally no more than six species at any
given location, but up to 11 present at some
Cuban sites; little overlap in niche between
species.
Phylogenetic analyses indicate that
speciation, not immigration, accounts for
diversity on the Greater Antilles.
Ecomorphs arose independently on each
major island group in the Greater Antilles.
....In other words, species doing the same
thing on different islands are not each others
closest relatives, but the result of four
separate evolutionary events!
Implications for Phylogenetic Niche Conservatism?
Monday, April 29, 13
Genetic variation increases during multiple invasions
Typically, genetic variation of island invaders is low due to founder effects
resulting in genetic bottlenecks
Monday, April 29, 13
Genetic variation increases during multiple invasions
Typically, genetic variation of island invaders is low due to founder effects
resulting in genetic bottlenecks
...but sometimes genetic variation can increase!
Monday, April 29, 13
Genetic variation increases during multiple invasions
Typically, genetic variation of island invaders is low due to founder effects
resulting in genetic bottlenecks
...but sometimes genetic variation can increase!
Monday, April 29, 13
Genetic variation increases during multiple invasions
Consequences of eight invasion of Florida by Anolis sagrei
Kolbe et. al, 2004
Monday, April 29, 13
Genetic variation increases during multiple invasions
Consequences of eight invasion of Florida by Anolis sagrei
Kolbe et. al, 2004
Monday, April 29, 13
Genetic variation increases during multiple invasions
Consequences of eight invasion of Florida by Anolis sagrei
Kolbe et. al, 2004
Monday, April 29, 13
Invasion biology and implications for a native species:
Evolution in Anolis carolinensis
What happens when phenotypically plastic species invade the
mainland?
Generally, Island-to-Mainland
colonization events are rare.
Monday, April 29, 13
Invasion biology and implications for a native species:
Evolution in Anolis carolinensis
What happens when phenotypically plastic species invade the
mainland?
Generally, Island-to-Mainland
colonization events are rare.
Given that Caribbean Anolis are
notably morphologically plastic,
what happens when they are
introduced to the mainland where
there is already an Anolis present?
Monday, April 29, 13
Invasion biology and implications for a native species:
Evolution in Anolis carolinensis
What happens when phenotypically plastic species invade the
mainland?
Generally, Island-to-Mainland
colonization events are rare.
Given that Caribbean Anolis are
notably morphologically plastic,
what happens when they are
introduced to the mainland where
there is already an Anolis present?
Anolis carolinensis: the Green Anole.
Native to the southeastern US.
http://www.chattanooganaturecenter.org
Anolis sagrei: The Cuban Anole.
Native to Cuba, introduced to
Florida.
http://dusttracks.com
Monday, April 29, 13
http://dusttracks.com
Invasion biology and implications for a native species:
Evolution in Anolis carolinensis
What happens when phenotypically plastic species invade the
mainland?
Generally, Island-to-Mainland
colonization events are rare.
Given that Caribbean Anolis are
notably morphologically plastic,
what happens when they are
introduced to the mainland where
there is already an Anolis present?
Anolis carolinensis: the Green Anole.
Native to the southeastern US.
http://www.chattanooganaturecenter.org
Anolis sagrei: The Cuban Anole.
Native to Cuba, introduced to
Florida.
Where Cuban Anoles are present,
Green Anoles tend to be (apparently)
more scarce.
http://dusttracks.com
Monday, April 29, 13
http://dusttracks.com
Invasion biology and implications for a native species:
Evolution in Anolis carolinensis
What happens when phenotypically plastic species invade the
mainland?
Generally, Island-to-Mainland
colonization events are rare.
Given that Caribbean Anolis are
notably morphologically plastic,
what happens when they are
introduced to the mainland where
there is already an Anolis present?
Anolis carolinensis: the Green Anole.
Native to the southeastern US.
http://www.chattanooganaturecenter.org
Anolis sagrei: The Cuban Anole.
Native to Cuba, introduced to
Florida.
Where Cuban Anoles are present,
Green Anoles tend to be (apparently)
more scarce.
Could this be competitive exclusion?
Or something more interesting....like
what has been observed on
Caribbean islands?
Monday, April 29, 13
http://dusttracks.com
http://dusttracks.com
Experimental test of adaptive size differentiation
In 1977 and 1983, Anolis
sagrei were experimentally
introduced to small islands
off of Staniel Cay in the
Bahamas.
5 or 10 lizards, of a 2:3
male:female ratio, were
randomly added to islands
that were previously
uninhabited by Anolis.
The islands differed from
Staniel Cay in vegetation
height: relatively tall at the
source, stunted on the
islands.
Monday, April 29, 13
Experimental test of adaptive size differentiation
In 1977 and 1983, Anolis
sagrei were experimentally
introduced to small islands
off of Staniel Cay in the
Bahamas.
5 or 10 lizards, of a 2:3
male:female ratio, were
randomly added to islands
that were previously
uninhabited by Anolis.
The islands differed from
Staniel Cay in vegetation
height: relatively tall at the
source, stunted on the
islands.
Staniel Cay, Google Maps
Possible islands of introduction, Google Maps
Monday, April 29, 13
Experimental test of adaptive size differentiation
In 1977 and 1983, Anolis
sagrei were experimentally
introduced to small islands
off of Staniel Cay in the
Bahamas.
5 or 10 lizards, of a 2:3
male:female ratio, were
randomly added to islands
that were previously
uninhabited by Anolis.
The islands differed from
Staniel Cay in vegetation
height: relatively tall at the
source, stunted on the
islands.
Staniel Cay, Google Maps
Expectations were that as
populations persisted in
new habitats, there would
be corresponding changes
in morphology.
Previous studies on the
evolutionary radiation of
Anolis found that there was
a correlation between
average perch diameter
and limb length.
Possible islands of introduction, Google Maps
Monday, April 29, 13
Experimental test of adaptive size differentiation
Most populations persisted; in 1991, adult
males were captured and measured.
Expectations were, based on previous
studies, that the after several generations
hindlimbs would be smaller in response to
shorter vegetation and smaller diameter
perch substrates.
In fact, that’s just what was found!
Monday, April 29, 13
Experimental test of adaptive size differentiation
Most populations persisted; in 1991, adult
males were captured and measured.
Expectations were, based on previous
studies, that the after several generations
hindlimbs would be smaller in response to
shorter vegetation and smaller diameter
perch substrates.
In fact, that’s just what was found!
Losos et al, 1997
Monday, April 29, 13
Experimental test of adaptive size differentiation
Losos et al, 1997
Monday, April 29, 13
CITATIONS
¥
Alföldi, J., Di Palma F., Grabherr, M., Williams C., Kong L., Mauceli
E., Russell P., Lowe C.B., Glor, R.E., Jaffe J.D., Ray D.A., Boissinot
S., Shedlock A.M., Botka C., Castoe T.A., Colbourne J.K., Fujita
M.K., Moreno, R.G., Hallers B.F.T., Haussler D., Heger A., Heiman
D., Janes D.E., Johnson J., de Jong, P.J., Koriabine M.Y., Sanger
T.J., Searle S., Smith J.D., Smith Z., Swofford R., Turner-Maier J.,
Wade J., Young S., Zadissa A., Edwards S.V., Glenn T.C.,
Schneider C.J., Losos J.B., Lander E.S., Breen M., Pontig C.P.,
Lindblad-Toh, K. 2011. The genome of the green anole lizard and
a comparative analysis with birds and mammals. Nature 477:
587-591.
¥
Kolbe, J.J., and J.B. Losos. 2005. Hind-limb length plasticity in
Anolis carolinensis. Journal of Herpetology 39:674-678.
¥
Kolbe, J.J., R.E. Glor, L. Rodríguez Schettino, A. Chamizo Lara, A.
Larson, and J. B. Losos. 2004. Genetic variation increases during
biological invasion by a Cuban lizard. Nature 431:177-181.
¥
Losos, J.B. 1990. Ecomorphology, performance capability, and
scaling of West Indian Anolis lizards: an evolutionary analysis.
Ecological Monographs 60: 369-388.
¥
Losos, J.B. 2008. Phylogenetic niche conservatism, phylogenetic
signal and the relationship between phylogenetic relatedness and
ecological similarity among species. Ecology Letters 11:
995-1007.
¥
Losos, J., E. Braun, D. Brown, S. Clifton, S. Edwards, J. GibsonBrown, T. Glenn, L. Guillette, D. Main, P. Minx, W. Modi, M.
Pfrender, D. Pollock, D. Ray, A. Shedlock, and W. Warren. 2005.
Proposal to sequence the first reptilian genome: the green anole
lizard, Anolis carolinensis. Submitted to National Human Genome
Research Institute, NIH.
¥
Losos, J. B., and R. E. Glor. 2003. Phylogenetic comparative
methods and the geography of speciation. Trends in Ecology and
Evolution 18:220-227.
¥
Losos, J.B., and D. Schluter. 2000. Analysis of an evolutionary
species-area relationship. Nature 408:847-850.
¥
Losos, J.B., and D. Spiller. 1999. Differential colonization success
and asymmetrical interactions between two lizard species.
Ecology 80: 252-258.
¥
Losos, J.B., K.I. Warheit, and T.W. Schoener. 1997. Adaptive
differentiation following experimental island colonization in Anolis
lizards. Nature 387: 70-73.
Monday, April 29, 13
http://www.oeb.harvard.edu/faculty/losos/