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Habitat Selection Behavior of Three Species of Anolis Lizards
Author(s) -
Kiester A. Ross,
Gorman George C.,
Arroyo David Colon
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1935315
Subject(s) - habitat , anolis , ecology , selection (genetic algorithm) , vegetation (pathology) , field survey , geography , biology , lizard , cartography , artificial intelligence , computer science , medicine , pathology
Three species of Anolis lizards utilize objects projecting out of the dense vegetation in which they live to survey surrounding areas. This “post‐vantage behavior” may be used in habitat selection. Binary choice experiments employing an artificial post in field situations demonstrate that A. auratus and A. pulchellus are able to choose their normal grass—land habitat using this behavior. Large A. cristatellus choose a tree—trunk habitat whereas smaller individuals choose a grass—bush habitat. This difference accords with an observed difference in structural habitat for the two size classes.