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Jonathan B. Losos
Jonathan B. Losos
Affiliation: Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis; Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University.
Research Focus: Evolutionary ecology and adaptive radiation of Anolis lizards, especially the repeated evolution of “ecomorphs” across Caribbean islands.
Affiliation: Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis; Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University.
Research Focus: Evolutionary ecology and adaptive radiation of Anolis lizards, especially the repeated evolution of “ecomorphs” across Caribbean islands.
Key Contributions
Key Contributions
- What he studies: Mechanisms driving adaptive radiation and convergent evolution in Anolis across different islands.
- Notable discoveries: Demonstrated that on each Greater Antillean Island, Anolis repeatedly evolve the same suite of habitat specialists (ecomorphs), revealing both deterministic and contingent aspects of evolution.
One Key Study
One Key Study
Losos et al. (1998) compared Anolis assemblages on four Caribbean islands and found six–eight distinct ecomorph classes (e.g., twig, trunk‑ground, crown‑giant) evolving independently on each island. They showed that while ecological opportunity drives diversification, evolutionary outcomes are remarkably predictable across islands, providing a classic example of convergent adaptive radiation in vertebrates. This work cemented Anolis as a model for studying how ecology shapes evolutionary trajectories (Losos et al., 1998).
Losos et al. (1998) compared Anolis assemblages on four Caribbean islands and found six–eight distinct ecomorph classes (e.g., twig, trunk‑ground, crown‑giant) evolving independently on each island. They showed that while ecological opportunity drives diversification, evolutionary outcomes are remarkably predictable across islands, providing a classic example of convergent adaptive radiation in vertebrates. This work cemented Anolis as a model for studying how ecology shapes evolutionary trajectories (Losos et al., 1998).
Scientific Impact
Scientific Impact
- Citations: 44,432
- High‑impact journals: Science, Nature, PNAS
Why It Matters
Why It Matters
Losos’s research has transformed our understanding of how ecological niches and evolutionary constraints interact to produce repeatable patterns of diversification. His work guides hypothesis testing in evolutionary biology and informs conservation by predicting how species may adapt (or fail to adapt) to novel environments.
Losos’s research has transformed our understanding of how ecological niches and evolutionary constraints interact to produce repeatable patterns of diversification. His work guides hypothesis testing in evolutionary biology and informs conservation by predicting how species may adapt (or fail to adapt) to novel environments.
Manuel Leal
Manuel Leal
Affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri–Columbia
Research Focus: Sensory ecology and communication in Anolis, especially how habitat light environments shape dewlap design and detectability
Affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri–Columbia
Research Focus: Sensory ecology and communication in Anolis, especially how habitat light environments shape dewlap design and detectability
Key Contributions
Key Contributions
- What he studies: Evolution of visual signals (dewlaps) in relation to different light environments; behavioral and physiological adaptations in Anolis communication.
- Notable discoveries: Showed that Anolis dewlaps reflect UV light, creating a “private” channel detectable by conspecifics but less so by predators.
One Key Study
One Key Study
Leal and Fleishman (2002) measured spectral reflectance of dewlaps and ambient light in sympatric Anolis species. They found that dewlaps are tuned to maximize contrast in each species’ microhabitat, supporting habitat‑driven signal divergence. This study provided strong evidence for sensory drive in anole communication and influenced how we think about signal evolution in variable environments (Leal & Fleishman, 2002).
Leal and Fleishman (2002) measured spectral reflectance of dewlaps and ambient light in sympatric Anolis species. They found that dewlaps are tuned to maximize contrast in each species’ microhabitat, supporting habitat‑driven signal divergence. This study provided strong evidence for sensory drive in anole communication and influenced how we think about signal evolution in variable environments (Leal & Fleishman, 2002).
Scientific Impact
Scientific Impact
- h‑index: (information not publicly available)
- High‑impact journals: Proceedings of the Royal Society B, American Naturalist
- ORCID iD: (not available)
Why It Matters
Why It Matters
Leal’s work illustrates how environmental light regimes shape the evolution of communication signals, highlighting the interplay between ecology, behavior, and sensory physiology. These insights apply broadly to the study of animal signaling and the evolution of biodiversity.
Leal’s work illustrates how environmental light regimes shape the evolution of communication signals, highlighting the interplay between ecology, behavior, and sensory physiology. These insights apply broadly to the study of animal signaling and the evolution of biodiversity.
Kristin M. Winchell
Kristin M. Winchell
Affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University
Research Focus: Urban evolutionary ecology of Anolis lizards, examining how rapid environmental change drives adaptive shifts in morphology and performance
Affiliation: Department of Biology, New York University
Research Focus: Urban evolutionary ecology of Anolis lizards, examining how rapid environmental change drives adaptive shifts in morphology and performance
Key Contributions
Key Contributions
- What she studies: Whether and how tropical Anolis adapt genetically and phenotypically to urban habitats, using Puerto Rico as a natural experiment.
- Notable discoveries: Identified consistent increases in limb length and toe‑pad lamellae in urban Anolis cristatellus, indicating rapid, predictable adaptation to smooth, built substrates.
One Key Study
One Key Study
Winchell et al. (2016) compared morphology and habitat use of A. cristatellus from urban vs. nearby forest sites across Puerto Rico. They found that urban lizards exhibit longer limbs relative to body size and more adhesive subdigital scales, matching predictions based on substrate differences. This study was among the first to document rapid, parallel adaptation to urbanization in a tropical vertebrate (Winchell et al., 2016).
Winchell et al. (2016) compared morphology and habitat use of A. cristatellus from urban vs. nearby forest sites across Puerto Rico. They found that urban lizards exhibit longer limbs relative to body size and more adhesive subdigital scales, matching predictions based on substrate differences. This study was among the first to document rapid, parallel adaptation to urbanization in a tropical vertebrate (Winchell et al., 2016).
Scientific Impact
Scientific Impact
- h‑index: (≈ 15; detailed profile unavailable)
- High‑impact journals: Evolution, PNAS
Why It Matters
Why It Matters
Winchell’s research bridges urban ecology and evolutionary biology, demonstrating that species can undergo rapid, parallel genetic adaptation to human‑altered environments. This work underscores the importance of preserving adaptive potential in wildlife facing global change.
Winchell’s research bridges urban ecology and evolutionary biology, demonstrating that species can undergo rapid, parallel genetic adaptation to human‑altered environments. This work underscores the importance of preserving adaptive potential in wildlife facing global change.
References
References
Leal, M., & Fleishman, L. J. (2002). Evidence for habitat partitioning based on adaptation to environmental light in a pair of sympatric lizard species. Proceedings. Biological Sciences, 269(1489), 351–359. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2001.1868
Losos, J. B., Jackman, T. R., Larson, A., de Queiroz, K., & Rodríguez‑Schettino, L. (1998). Contingency and determinism in replicated adaptive radiations of island lizards. Science, 279(5359), 2115–2118. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.279.5359.2115
Winchell, K. M., Campbell-Staton, S. C., Losos, J. B., Revell, L. J., Verrelli, B. C., & Geneva, A. J. (2023). Genome-wide parallelism underlies contemporary adaptation in urban lizards. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(3), e2216789120. https://academic.oup.com/evolut/article-abstract/70/5/998/6851726?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false
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