Phenotypic Plasticity in the Relative Hind-Limb Growth of Lab-Reared Anolis sagrei: Replication of Experimental Results and a Test of Perch Diameter Preference

dc.contributor.authorLangford, Gabriel J.
dc.contributor.authorMacedonia, Joseph M.
dc.contributor.authorBessette, Christopher W.
dc.contributor.authorMatey, Jennifer L.
dc.contributor.authorRaboin, Brittany A.
dc.contributor.authorSchiffmacher, Ashley E.
dc.contributor.authorReynolds, Brett J.
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-07T20:23:38Z
dc.date.available2017-04-07T20:23:38Z
dc.date.issued2014-06
dc.description.abstractSeveral observational and experimental studies have shown that perch diameter has an impact on the development of hind-limb length (HL) in Anolis species. This 'phenotypic plasticity' in relative hind-limb growth (RHG) has implications for short-term and long-term adaptation to different structural habitats. Our study is the first to replicate research in which hatchling/juvenile Anolis sagrei were reared on narrow-diameter or broad-diameter dowels in a laboratory setting. Although subjects reared on different dowel diameters did not differ significantly in RHG at 5 weeks into the experiment, results at 15 weeks revealed a significant effect of treatment but not of sex: subjects in the broad ( N = 69) treatment group exhibited significantly greater RHG than did subjects in the narrow ( N = 61) treatment group. We extended this research with a novel follow-up study: we placed our lab-reared subjects into outdoor enclosures where they had a choice of narrow- or broad-diameter dowels on which to perch. Results showed that subjects in both treatment groups chose broad-diameter dowels as perches more often than narrow-diameter dowels. We offer several potential explanations for the strong preference of our subjects for broad-diameter dowels irrespective of the dowel diameter on which they were reared.
dc.identifier.citationLangford, G. J., Macedonia, J. M., Bessette, C. W., Matey, J. L., Raboin, B. A., Schiffmacher, A. E., & Reynolds, B. J. (2014). Phenotypic Plasticity in the Relative Hind-Limb Growth of Lab-Reared Anolis sagrei : Replication of Experimental Results and a Test of Perch Diameter Preference. Journal of Herpetology, 48(2), 228-232. doi:10.1670/12-198
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.1670/12-198
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11416/240
dc.identifier.urihttps://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=edsjsr&AN=edsjsr.43287437&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s5615486
dc.subjectPhenotypic plasticity
dc.subjectBrown Anole
dc.subjectReproduction
dc.subjectLizards Physiology
dc.subjectDowels
dc.subjectNiche (Ecology)
dc.titlePhenotypic Plasticity in the Relative Hind-Limb Growth of Lab-Reared Anolis sagrei: Replication of Experimental Results and a Test of Perch Diameter Preference
dc.typeArticle

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