Limited Dispersal of Juvenile Anolis limifrons

Abstract

Dispersal patterns and home range sizes of the tropical lizard A. limifrons were evaluated during 1971-1978 at 2 sites in Barro Colorado Island in Panama. The median distance between captures of individual juveniles was 2.9 m and 95% of juveniles had median distances between captures of < 11 m. The median distances between the centers of juvenile and adult home ranges for individuals first captured as juveniles and later as adults were 5.0 and 3.1 m for males and females, respectively. The greater median distance between the juvenile and adult home ranges of males than females is related to the 4-fold larger size of the adult home ranges of adult males than adult females. Mean recapture radii (r) were used to measure home range size of adults. For adult males at Lutz and AVA sites, respective median values of r were 5.5 and 4 m, and the largest home range had a mean radius of 8 m. Of males captured as juveniles and later as adults, 43% had juvenile and adult home ranges < 5.5 m apart and 68% were < 8 m apart. For adult females at Lutz and AVA sites, respective median values of r were 2.9 and 1.9 m. Of females captured as juveniles and later as adults, 47% had their juvenile and adult home ranges < 2.9 m apart and 82% were < 8 m apart. Most individuals appear to have overlapping home ranges as juveniles and adults. Low dispersal by A. limifrons individuals is associated with high adult mortality rates. Because of annual population turnover, maturing individuals can increase the size of their home ranges while maintaining the same location.