College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences (BCAS)
Date of Last Revision
2023-05-03 16:49:36
Major
Biology
Honors Course
499
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2020
Abstract
Anolis lizards are best known for their ability to adhere to surfaces with the use of their adhesive toe pads. Different ecomorphs of anoles exist which co-vary with habitat type, a concept known as ecomorphology. The ecomorphology of anoles has been well studied, however little is known about the differences that may exist within the adhesive toe pads of different anole species. In this project, differences within adhesive microstructures of five different species of Jamaican anoles was examined. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) will be used to produce images of the adhesive structures in which a variety of morphological measurements were performed. Because differences in macromorphological features due to habitat type exist between anole ecomorphs, it was hypothesized that differences will also exist within adhesive microstructure of Jamaican anoles.Trunk ground anoles were found to have less setae per unit area than trunk crown and crown giant anoles. Trunk crown anoles were found to have shorter, thinner setae than the other ecomorphs. Research on Jamaican anoles may provide insight into habitat function of adhesive toepads of anoline species.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Peter Niewiarowski
First Reader
Dr. Ali Dhinojwala
Second Reader
Dr. Anthony Russell
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Brian Bagatto
Recommended Citation
Wright, Caitlin, "Are there Ecomorphologically-related Differences in the Adhesive Setae of Jamaican Anolis Lizards?" (2020). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1127.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1127