When predatory curly-tailed lizards (Leiocephalus carinatus) were introduced to the brown anoles’ predator-free habitats, the lizards began climbing higher in trees to escape predation. This shift came at a cost: reduced access to marine-based food sources and weaker body condition. Our ongoing experiments aim to connect these rapid adaptations to the genetic mechanisms underlying risk-taking behavior, providing a window into the evolutionary dynamics of behavioral traits.

In this project, we investigate the ecological and evolutionary consequences of this invasion, examining how both predator and prey are evolving in response to these novel environmental challenges, and the broader impacts on ecosystem functioning.