Anolis lizards are the most diverse tetrapod clade on the planet, with over 400 species occurring in the neotropics. Despite being charismatic and well known, the natural history of many Anoles is highly understudied. Cusuco National Park (CNP) supports 13 distinct species of Anole lizards, four of which are endemic to Honduras. These sympatric species must avoid both inter- and intra-specific competition. Anoles may do this by partitioning their niches with regards to their diurnal active locations and their nocturnal sleeping sites. This project aims to determine the degree of habitat specificity in CNP’s Anoles, investigating how their niches are separated in terms of their diurnal active locations and nocturnal sleeping sites. Data collection involves conducting visual encounter surveys (day & night) for the most common species of Anole lizards using the pre-established network of transects in CNP. When encountering individuals, data is collected on anole morphology (body size, condition, sex, etc.), behaviour (activity, orientation, etc.) and micro-habitat use (i.e. height above ground, perch substrate, dimensions, etc.). The collection of such data will allow conclusions to be made on species interactions, behaviour, ecology and niche preference; seeking to form an understanding of how these synoptic species avoid competition in nature.

Extended Dissertation Summary

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