| dc.description.abstract | For economic, public health, and conservation purposes, detailed study of patterns of invasion are important. An understanding of initial colonization, expansion and acclimation/adaptation to novel environments is essential when predicting invasion patterns and potential for local ecological effects. This article defines physiological and demographic characteristics of successful invasive species, notes the variability within invading populations with respect to phenotypic plasticity, adaptation, and acclimation, and discusses the significant ecological, economic, and public health implications. In particular, the invasion and expansion patterns of the brown anole lizard Anolis sagrei has been highlighted for study and subsequent discussion will include the natural and life history traits, fundamental and realized niches, genetic/phenotypic variation, and a recent study of reproductive output patterns of female brown anoles. By combining this collective review of pertinent literature and recent studies, projections of the potential future invaded range of A. sagrei, its limitations, as well as its ecological implications will be analyzed. | |
