Foraging ecology in the lizardAnolis oculatus(Iguanidae) from Dominica, West Indies

摘要: In general, populations of Anolis lizards on West Indian islands face few predators, are at high density and thought to be limited by food. This paper describes how the foraging ecology oculatus, a solitary species confined island Dominica, Lesser Antilles, varies with habitat season in relation quantity quality available food. Availability invertebrate food (determined using pitfall traps sticky traps) was greater dry scrub woodland site, Cabrits National Park (CNP), compared montane rainforest Palmiste Ridge. former, there were general increases abundance, volumes softbodied prey sizes invertebrates from wet season. Concomitant dietary changes, as determined principally stomach flushing, included an increase (by volume) proportion soft-bodied prey. Dietary analyses confirmed importance ants (Formicidae) diet A. although for large individuals (mainly adult males) such Oligochaeta Orthoptera were, volumetric terms, more important. Prey capture observations showed that oculatus fed mainly above ground. site used higher perch heights than those woodland, both habitats, small juveniles) ground level ants. CNP, (in terms) smaller dominated hardbodied ants, springtails (Collembola), barklice (Psocoptera) beetles (Coleoptera). lesser extent, resulting relatively low niche overlap values between size classes reduced potential intraspecific competition