Anolis lizards restricted to altered edge habitats in a Hispaniolan cloud forest

We examined a community of Anolis lizards in a cloud forest at elevations o f 1050-1150 m in the Sierra de Baoruco, Hispaniola, and found that anoles w ere essentially absent from the forest interior. Instead, nearly all lizard s were associated with edge habitats created largely by human agency. Anoli s distichus was uncommon at this site when compared to A. bahorucoensis, A. coelestinus, and A. cybotes. Edges varied in vegetation height, and only A . bahorucoensis was common in the only habitat without substantial vertical structure. Structural habitat use was similar to that observed in the same species at lower elevations, except that reliance on fence posts in some a reas dramatically increased overlap in perch heights. The four species main tained body temperatures significantly above ambient, but those of A. bahor ucoensis were lower. Anolis bahorucoensis has been characterized as a shade -loving bush/grass anole, but was distinctly heliotropic at this site. Diet ary niches of all species except A. distichus were indicative of dietary ge neralists; the diet of A. distichus was dominated by ants. Anoline communit ies at these elevations apparently rely on edges; such habitats were probab ly created by natural forces (e.g., hurricanes) prior to human arrival.