{"681459":{"#nid":"681459","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Amid a Tropical Paradise Known as \u2018Lizard Island,\u2019 Researchers are Cracking Open Evolution\u2019s Black Box","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvery morning in Miami, our fieldwork begins the same way. Fresh Cuban coffee and pastelitos \u2013 delicious Latin American pastries \u2013 fuel our team for another day of evolutionary detective work. Here we\u2019re tracking evolution in real time, measuring natural selection as it happens in a community of Caribbean lizards.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=2QdWvJ4AAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Eassistant professor\u003C\/a\u003E of ecology and evolution at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E, my journey with these remarkable reptiles has taken me \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/james-stroud\u0022\u003Efar from my London roots\u003C\/a\u003E. The warm, humid air of Miami feels natural now, a far cry from the gray, drizzly and lizard-free streets of my British upbringing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur research takes place on a South Florida island roughly the size of an American football field \u2013 assuming we\u2019re successful in sidestepping the American crocodiles that bask in the surrounding lake. We call it Lizard Island, and it\u2019s a special place.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere, since 2015, we\u2019ve been conducting evolutionary research on five species of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iz1wlgWn8D0\u0022\u003Eremarkable lizards called anoles\u003C\/a\u003E. By studying the anoles, our team is working to understand one of biology\u2019s most fundamental questions: How does natural selection drive evolution in real time?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach May, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/biolinnean\/blae088\u0022\u003Ecoinciding with the start of the breeding season\u003C\/a\u003E, we visit Lizard Island to capture, study and release all adult anoles \u2013 a population that fluctuates between 600 to 1,000. For the entire summer, female anoles lay a single egg every seven to 10 days. By October, a whole new generation has emerged.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022An illustration of five species of anoles.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=326\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=326\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=326\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=410\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=410\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649851\/original\/file-20250218-32-3wepvn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=410\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EThe anoles of Lizard Island, clockwise from top left: Cuban knight anole, Hispaniolan bark anole, American green anole, Cuban brown anole, Puerto Rican crested anole.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/kitiifdrdsv1kvtrrzmvd\/ACUVItoWdPhtDv7ClsTpuB0\/Day\u0026apos;s%20Edge%20Prods?rlkey=szjea3hyh7uw81fp71d28ijip\u0026amp;subfolder_nav_tracking=1\u0026amp;dl=0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003ENeil Losin\/Day\u0027s Edge Prods.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Secret Lives of Lizards\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnoles aren\u2019t early risers, so we don\u2019t expect much activity until the Sun strengthens around 9:30 a.m.; this gives us time to prepare our equipment. Our team catches anoles with telescopic fishing poles fitted with little lassos, which we use to gently pluck the lizards off branches and tree trunks. Ask any lizard biologist about \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.anoleannals.org\/2011\/01\/17\/forum-what-makes-the-best-noose\/\u0022\u003Etheir preferred lasso material\u003C\/a\u003E and you\u2019ll spark the age-old debate: fishing line or dental floss? For what it\u2019s worth, we recently converted \u2013 we\u2019re now on Team Fishing Line.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPicture yourself as an anole on Lizard Island. Your life is short \u2013 typically just one year \u2013 and filled with daily challenges. You need to warm up in the Sun, find enough food to survive, search for a mate, guard your favorite branch from other lizards and avoid being eaten by a predator.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike human beings, each lizard is unique. Some have longer legs, others stronger jaws, and all behave slightly differently. These differences could determine who survives and who doesn\u2019t; who has the most babies and who doesn\u2019t.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese outcomes drive \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.amnh.org\/exhibitions\/darwin\/evolution-today\/natural-selection-vista\u0022\u003Eevolution by natural selection\u003C\/a\u003E, the process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more. These advantageous traits are then passed on to future generations, gradually changing the species over time. However, scientists still have an incomplete understanding of exactly how each of these features predicts life\u2019s winners and losers in the wild.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo understand how species evolve, researchers need to crack open this black box of evolution and investigate natural selection in wild populations. My colleagues and I are doing this by studying the anoles in exquisite detail. Last year was especially exciting: We ran what we called the Lizard Olympics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A researcher catches a lizard with a dental floss lasso.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=708\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=708\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=708\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=890\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=890\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649853\/original\/file-20250218-32-j18g6x.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=890\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003ECatching an anole with a lizard lasso. Look closely \u2013 the anole blends in quite well with the tree.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/kitiifdrdsv1kvtrrzmvd\/ACUVItoWdPhtDv7ClsTpuB0\/Day\u0026apos;s%20Edge%20Prods?rlkey=szjea3hyh7uw81fp71d28ijip\u0026amp;subfolder_nav_tracking=1\u0026amp;dl=0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003ENeil Losin\/Day\u0027s Edge Prods.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ETiny Fishing Poles\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the morning heat builds, we spot our first lizards: Cuban brown anoles near to the ground, and the mottled scales of Hispaniolan bark anoles just above them. Further up, in the leafy tree canopies, are American green anoles, and the largest species, the Cuban knight anole, about the size of a newborn kitten.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2018, a new challenger entered the arena \u2013 the Puerto Rican crested anole, a species already present in Miami but one that hadn\u2019t yet made it to Lizard Island. Its arrival provided us with an unexpected opportunity to study how species may evolve in real time \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-024-54302-1\u0022\u003Ein response to a new neighbor\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECatching these agile athletes requires patience and precision. With our modified fishing poles, we carefully loop the dental floss over their heads. Each capture site is marked with bright pink tape and a unique ID number; all lizards are then transported to our field laboratory just a short walk away.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022An anole, inside a container, is weighed in the laboratory by a researcher.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=436\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=436\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=436\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=549\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=549\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649864\/original\/file-20250218-32-daxw8n.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=549\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EIn the laboratory, Stroud weighs a green anole.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/kitiifdrdsv1kvtrrzmvd\/ACUVItoWdPhtDv7ClsTpuB0\/Day\u0026apos;s%20Edge%20Prods?dl=0\u0026amp;rlkey=szjea3hyh7uw81fp71d28ijip\u0026amp;subfolder_nav_tracking=1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003ENeil Losin\/Day\u0027s Edge Prods.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Lizard Olympics\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere, the real Olympic trials begin. Every athlete goes through a comprehensive evaluation. Our portable X-ray machine reveals their skeletal structure, and high-resolution scans capture the intricate details of their feet. This is particularly critical: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/47307-how-geckos-stick-and-unstick-feet.html\u0022\u003ELike their gecko cousins\u003C\/a\u003E, anoles possess remarkable sticky toes that allow them to cling to smooth surfaces such as leaves and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/natural-selection-in-action-hurricanes-irma-and-maria-affected-island-lizards-100371\u0022\u003Emaybe even survive hurricanes\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe also measure the shape and sharpness of their claws, as both features are crucial for these tree climbers. DNA samples provide a genetic fingerprint for each individual, allowing us to map family relationships across the island and see which is the most reproductively successful.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-right zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022An X-ray image of a lizard.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=237\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=476\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=476\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=476\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=599\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=599\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649870\/original\/file-20250218-38-exh440.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=599\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EA portable X-ray machine takes detailed measurements of a lizard\u2019s skeleton.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/no%20source\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EJames Stroud\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe performance trials are where things get interesting. Imagine a tiny track meet for lizards. Using high-speed video cameras, we precisely test how fast each lizard runs, and using specialist equipment we measure how hard it bites and how strong it grips rough branches and smooth leaves.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese aren\u2019t arbitrary measurements \u2013 each represents a potential evolutionary advantage. Fast lizards might better escape predators. Strong bites might determine winners in territorial disputes. Excellent grip is crucial for tree canopy acrobatics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach measurement helps us answer fundamental questions about evolution: Do faster lizards live longer? Do stronger biters produce more offspring? These are the essential metrics of evolution by natural selection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-left zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A researcher shows us the lizard\u0026apos;s identification code.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=237\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=676\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=676\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=676\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=850\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=850\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649872\/original\/file-20250218-32-59ed0y.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=850\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EThe identification code lets researchers track the lizard\u2019s growth and survival.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/kitiifdrdsv1kvtrrzmvd\/AEl6nBJ9FAcZOo5vXhFvKWE?rlkey=szjea3hyh7uw81fp71d28ijip\u0026amp;e=1\u0026amp;dl=0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003ENeil Losin\/Day\u0027s Edge Prods.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs afternoon approaches, the team relocates each piece of bright pink tape and returns the corresponding lizard to the exact branch it was caught on. The anoles now sport two tiny 3-millimeter tags with a unique code that lets us identify it when we recapture it in future research trips, along with a small dot of white nail polish so we know not to catch it immediately after we let it go.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt 8:30 p.m., with the Lizard Olympics done for the day, we return to the island donning headlamps. Night brings a different perspective. Some of the most wily lizards are difficult to catch when fully charged by the midday Sun, so our nocturnal jaunts allow us to find them while they sleep. However, it\u2019s often a race against time. Hungry lizard-eating corn snakes are also out hunting, trying to find the anoles before we do. As we wrap up another 16-hour day around 11:30 p.m., the team shares stories of the night.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A baby lizard is asleep on a leaf.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=507\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=507\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=507\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=637\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=637\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649873\/original\/file-20250218-32-7sagx9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=637\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EShould a snake climb along a branch where a baby anole sleeps, the lizard will wake up and drop to the ground to escape.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/no%20source\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EJames Stroud\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EEvolution on the Island\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow spanning 10 years, 10 generations and five species, our Lizard Island dataset represents \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41586-025-08597-9\u0022\u003Eone of the longest-running active studies\u003C\/a\u003E of its kind in evolutionary biology. By tracking which individuals survive and reproduce, and linking their success to specific physical traits and performance abilities, we\u2019re documenting natural selection with unprecedented detail.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo far we have uncovered two fascinating patterns. Initially, it didn\u2019t pay to be different on Lizard Island. Anoles with very average shapes and sizes lived longer compared with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.2222071120\u0022\u003Ethose that are slightly different\u003C\/a\u003E. But when the crested anoles arrived, everything changed: Suddenly, brown anoles with longer legs \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-024-54302-1\u0022\u003Ehad a survival advantage\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-right zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Next to a rock, a brown lizard shows its orange dewlap.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=237\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=859\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=859\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=859\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1080\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1080\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/649858\/original\/file-20250218-44-k789g7.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1080\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EAnoles communicate with their dewlap, an expandable throat fan that signals other lizards.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/awu72ov5qbr9vmxcg788o\/ALTbYwipLuM9Iz7crKE5cTY?rlkey=oaaktbmuvcvcglwyavxmybuag\u0026amp;e=2\u0026amp;dl=0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EJon Suh\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Lizard Olympics is helping us understand why. The larger, more aggressive crested anoles are forcing brown anoles to spend more time on the ground, where those with longer legs might run faster to escape predators \u2013 allowing them to better survive and pass on their long-leg genes, while shorter-legged anoles might be eaten before they can reproduce.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy watching natural selection unfold in response to environmental changes, rather than inferring it from fossil records, we\u2019re providing cutting-edge evidence for evolutionary processes that Charles Darwin could only theorize about.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese long days of observation are slowly revealing one of biology\u2019s most fundamental processes. Every lizard we catch, every measurement we take adds another piece to our understanding of how species adapt and evolve in an ever-changing world.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/246474\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/amid-a-tropical-paradise-known-as-lizard-island-researchers-are-cracking-open-evolutions-black-box-scientist-at-work-246474\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEach May, coinciding with the start of the breeding season, we visit Lizard Island to capture, study and release all adult anoles \u2013 a population that fluctuates between 600 to 1,000.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Each May, coinciding with the start of the breeding season, we visit Lizard Island to capture, study and release all adult anoles \u2013 a population that fluctuates between 600 to 1,000."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-03-31 14:51:12","changed_gmt":"2025-07-01 00:50:34","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673890":{"id":"673890","type":"image","title":"James Stroud examines an anole (Day\u2019s Edge Productions)","body":null,"created":"1714494317","gmt_created":"2024-04-30 16:25:17","changed":"1714494317","gmt_changed":"2024-04-30 16:25:17","alt":"James Stroud examines an anole (Day\u2019s Edge Productions)","file":{"fid":"257341","name":"original_stroudresearchmiami_003_daysedgeprods.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/30\/original_stroudresearchmiami_003_daysedgeprods.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/30\/original_stroudresearchmiami_003_daysedgeprods.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":494176,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/30\/original_stroudresearchmiami_003_daysedgeprods.jpg?itok=cfKU82J9"}}},"media_ids":["673890"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/amid-a-tropical-paradise-known-as-lizard-island-researchers-are-cracking-open-evolutions-black-box-scientist-at-work-246474","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/james-t-stroud-1477595\u0022\u003EJames T. Stroud\u003C\/a\u003E, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolution, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}