Exploring the Environmental Factors that Affect Color Change in the Green Anole
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Exploring the environmental factors that affect color change in the green anole
The green anole (Anolis carolinensis) is the only native anole in the United States and one of the most common reptiles throughout its range. These anoles are rather slender and small, ranging from five to eight inches in length as adults and are found throughout the southeastern United States, living in a wide variety of habitats such as swamps, forests, parks, and even residential areas. Individual green anoles are capable of changing their color—fluctuating between various shades of green and brown. But why? Previous studies have tested alternative hypotheses of camouflage (or background matching), thermoregulation, and social interactions. Here, we provide an independent test of the role of thermoregulation and background matching using 1,175 records of anoles from Atlanta, Georgia from a citizen science database. From each observation, we recorded the type of background the anole was found on, the color of background, and the color of the anole. Using R, we extracted local air temperature and weather data. We then built a series of models to identify the relationships between anole color and air temperature, background type, and background color. Here, we present preliminary results discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the citizen science data to answer our preliminary hypotheses.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Todd Pierson
Exploring the Environmental Factors that Affect Color Change in the Green Anole
Exploring the environmental factors that affect color change in the green anole
The green anole (Anolis carolinensis) is the only native anole in the United States and one of the most common reptiles throughout its range. These anoles are rather slender and small, ranging from five to eight inches in length as adults and are found throughout the southeastern United States, living in a wide variety of habitats such as swamps, forests, parks, and even residential areas. Individual green anoles are capable of changing their color—fluctuating between various shades of green and brown. But why? Previous studies have tested alternative hypotheses of camouflage (or background matching), thermoregulation, and social interactions. Here, we provide an independent test of the role of thermoregulation and background matching using 1,175 records of anoles from Atlanta, Georgia from a citizen science database. From each observation, we recorded the type of background the anole was found on, the color of background, and the color of the anole. Using R, we extracted local air temperature and weather data. We then built a series of models to identify the relationships between anole color and air temperature, background type, and background color. Here, we present preliminary results discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the citizen science data to answer our preliminary hypotheses.