Factors restricting the range expansion of the invasive green anole Anolis carolinensis on Okinawa Island, Japan.

ABSTRACT: The green anole Anolis carolinensis invaded the Ogasawara Islands in Japan, drove various native species to extinction, and its distribution expanded 14 years after initial establishment. A. carolinensis invaded Okinawa Island, but it has not expanded its distribution in more than 25 years, although its density is extremely high in the southern region. To determine whether A. carolinensis has the potential to expand its distribution on Okinawa Island, we performed phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial ND2 DNA sequences to study the origin of A. carolinensis that invaded Okinawa Island. We further used a species distribution model (MaxEnt) based on the distribution of native populations in North America to identify ecologically suitable areas on Okinawa Island.

SUBMITTER: Suzuki-Ohno Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5478079 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature