Island Anole Video Study Guide
Watch the video on D2L (The Phylogenetic Tree of Anole Lizards) and complete the following
study guide. You do not have to hand this guide in – you are completing it to help you with the
quiz for this lab. The quiz will give you the credit associated with this lab and will consist of 10
multiple choice/true false questions over the information and concepts covered by this video
(total 15 points).
(1) During the anole lizard video, four species of anole are described. Describe the
morphology (body/leg shape, etc.) and habitats of each species along with the names of the 4
species (the name for the 4th one comes later in the video)
(2) Dr. Jonathan Losos demonstrated that the legs of an anole species are an important
determinant of success in its habitat. Describe how the leg structure and running ability are
adaptations for the habitat and foraging of the trunk-ground anole (the long-legged species
tested) and the twig anole.
(3) Losos also demonstrates the importance of toepads for anoles. How does the size of the
toepads on an anole species determine its ideal habitat? What is on the toe pads allows the
lizards to bond to the surface of leaves?
(4) What happened periodically to the islands to make them a good laboratory in which to
test questions about adaptations?
(5) Losos conducted an experiment to determine whether the relationship between anole
species’ legs and habitat is the result of evolutionary adaptation. He began by transplanting
anoles from one island to another. i) What type of lizards did he transplant? ii) What was
different about the islands he took anoles from and the islands on which he placed them? iii)
Upon return, what did they measure each time they found a lizard? iv) What did they
measure on the lizards back at the field laboratory? v) What was the eventual result of the
experiment after 4 years? vi) What does that suggest about the speed of evolution when
natural selection is strong?
(6) As a review: i) what is necessary to define two groups of animals as different species? ii)
To create new species, what has to happen?
(7) i) What is one characteristic that keeps anoles of different species from mating with each
other? ii) How might that characteristic relate to the habitat in which they live?
(8) Once new species are formed, what process drives the evolution of different body types?
(9) What is true about the types of lizards found on each of the 4 largest islands in the
Caribbean? Explain how that happened. How did they determine this relationship?
(10) In lecture, we covered the three criteria necessary for evolution by natural selection to
occur. Explain how each of the criteria must have applied to the experimental anoles for
them to have evolved on the islands.