HABITAT USE OF INTRODUCED AND NATIVE ANGLES (IGUANIDAE, ANOLIS) ALONGTHE NORTHERN COAST OF JAMAICA

A comparison of the spatial distribution of the introduced Anolis sagr ei with the native Analis grahami and Anolis lineatopus was conducted along the north coast of Jamaica during the spring of 1983, 1987 and 1 994. Spatial distribution was determined as a product of perch height and perch diameter. Perch heights differed significantly among the thr ee species. Due to the presence of considerable overlap in the two nic he dimensions, these variables were natural log transformed to constru ct a two-dimensional niche space to view species overlap. Anolis sagre i is an invader that has apparently integrated into the native Anolis community at this locality. The results of this study are discussed re garding implications for coexistence and potential competition between these three species of anoles.