Lab #10

Date: 4/6/16

Location: Lumber River Conservancy

Lab Activity: Searched under coverboards and checked pitfall traps

Habitat: Pine/Hardwood Forest

Temperature: 68 F

Wind: 3.2 mph

Humidity: 33.7%

Lab #3

Date: February 3rd, 2016

Location: Lumber River Conservancy

Activity: Placement of articial coverups 

Habitat: Pine/Hardwood Forest

Temperature: 73.1 F

Wind: 8.8 mph

Humidity: 90.4%

    During this lab, we placed cover boards in various places around the Lumber River Conservancy. A coverup is exactly what it sounds like, in the case of our lab it was just a wooden board we threw on the ground although cover ups can be made of anything. 

    There are advantages to using different material for your coverups. A wooden board will remain moist underneath and is more likely to attract amphibians to come and seek shelter underneath. Metal coverups will heat up during the day remaining dry underneath and will attract reptiles such as snakes, but would be undesirable to an amphibian which tries to retain its moisture.

 

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Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)

    The green anole is that lizard species that I find all over my property near the coast, but you can find them throughout the southern USA and the Caribbean Islands. We didn't find this species underneath a pre-setup coverboard like the other species we found during this lab. 

    Green Anoles are capable of changing colors, they can switch between green and brown. The change color as a means of temperature control. When the lizard is cold it will turn brown to maximise the amount of the sun's rays that it absorbs and when its warm it turns green to reflect the rays. These colors also have the added bonus of being the primary colors of their habitat.

    Male Green Anoles are extremely territorial and when they encounter another male will extend their dewlap and begin doing pushups. The dewlap is the red structure located on the underside of the male anole's neck, the purpose of this is to act as a warning. In the scenario that the opposing male did not back down, the two males will end up fighting.