How Storms Shape Lizards: A Tale of Evolution and Survival

Hurricanes are more than just powerful storms; they can drive evolution in surprising ways. Take the brown anole lizard, for example. These critters have been spreading across the southeastern United States for over a century. During this time, they've faced a lot of hurricanes. Scientists wanted to see if these storms left a mark on the lizards.

Study Findings

• Research Scope: Scientists studied 30 different sites with varying hurricane histories.
• Physical Traits: Lizards in areas with more hurricanes had:
• Longer limbs
• Bigger toepads These features help them hold on tight during stormy winds.
• Genetic Impact: Hurricanes leave a lasting genetic signature.
• Certain genes were strongly linked to both hurricane frequency and longer limbs.

Evolutionary Impact

• Hurricanes have a bigger impact on these lizards than other environmental factors.
• This shows how extreme weather can drive evolution.
• As climate change brings more hurricanes, it could alter the course of evolution for these lizards and maybe other species too.