Temporal and spatial variation in survival rates of the tropical lizard Anolis limifrons

We evaluated survival of the lizard, Anolis limifrons at two sites, AVA and Lutz, from 1976-1979 and during two periods at Lutz site, 1971-1976 vs 1976-1979, at Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Survival of adult females and males did not differ nor did survival of juveniles and adults. In contrast, survival was significantly higher at Lutz site during 1971-1976 than during 1976-1979 and survival was significantly higher at AVA than at Lutz site during 1976-1979. On an annual basis, mean survival rates were 0.042,0.013,0.055 for Lutz 1971-1976, Lutz 1976-1979, and AVA 1976-1979, respectively. These rates are in accord with reports of annual population turnover for this and other small mainland Anolis. Temporal and spatial variation in survival was not associated with habitat, season, year of observation, or numbers and abundances of avian predators. Survival patterns of mainland Anolis are contrasted with those of West Indian species in terms of life history evolution.