Avian Predation on Anolis Lizards in the Northeastern Caribbean: Inter-Island Contrast

摘要: This paper presents results of a field study avian predation on Anolis lizards islands in the northeastern Caribbean, addressing question what causes annual fluctuation lizard abundance. The two main potential predators, Pearly- eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus) and American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), were studied three adjacent northern Lesser Antilles: Anguilla, St. Martin, Eustatius. Anoles Anguilla found to be quantitatively unaffected by predation; thrashers there did not eat vertebrates, kestrel density was too low have significant impact population. In contrast, moist habitat Martin ate vertebrates including anoles, thrasher potentially accounted for anole decline dry-season abundance low. Additionally, an unanticipated niche shift discovered. body size diet appear related congeneric species, M. fuscus. On where fuscus absent, fuscatus smaller had non-vertebrate diet. Eustatius, abundant while larger preyed anoles. rare intermediate comparable that