Research

Ph.D. Dissertation: Relationships in territorial neighborhoods: factors influencing

interactions in a lizard, Anolis sagrei.

Advisor: Dr. Marion Preest

M.S. Thesis: Effects of resource distributions on movement patterns and space use

by the bark anole, Anolis distichus.

Advisor: Dr. Marion Preest

Undergraduate independent research: Scanning electron microscope analysis of pollen

loads carried by worker honey bees (Apis mellifera).

Advsior: Dr. James Sidie

Major fields of research interest

Animal behavior, herpetology, ecology (particularly interactions between territorial neighbors, individual recognition, communication/signalling, foraging behavior, effects of memory and learning abilities on behavior)

I am a behavioral ecologist with a particular interest in social interactions in territorial neighborhoods. In other words, I'm interested in knowing how animals work out social relationships. Most of my research uses the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei). These lizards are sometimes sold in pet stores under a variety of names, such as "Bahama anoles." They communicate using visual displays in much the same way that birds communicate using song. They extend a brightly colored throatfan (called a dewlap). Additionally, they use "headbob" displays to communicate. If you'd like to see examples of these headbob displays, click on the links below.

Nodding display

Bobbing display

Publications (all pdf files provided with permission of the publishers)

Tokarz, R.R., A.V. Paterson, and S. McMann. 2005. An experimental test of the importance

of displaying the dewlap in male mating success in free-ranging brown anoles (Anolis

sagrei). Journal of Herpetology 39:174-177. [pdf]

Paterson, A.V., and S. McMann. 2004. Differential headbob displays towards neighbors

and nonneighbors in the territorial lizard Anolis sagrei. Journal of Herpetology

38:288-291. [pdf]

Tokarz, R.R., A.V. Paterson, and S. McMann. 2003. A laboratory and field test of the

functional significance of the male’s dewlap in the lizard Anolis sagrei. Copeia

2003:502-511. [pdf with permission from ASIH]

McMann, S. and A.V. Paterson. 2003. Effects of capture, observer presence, and captivity

on display behavior in a lizard. Journal of Herpetology 37:538-540. [pdf]

McMann, S. and A.V. Paterson. 2003. The relationship between location and displays in

a territorial lizard. Journal of Herpetology 37:414-416. [pdf]

Paterson, A.V. 2002. Effects of an individual’s removal on space use and behavior in

territorial neighborhoods of brown anoles (Anolis sagrei). Herpetologica

58(3):382-393. [pdf]

Nicholson, K.E., A.V. Paterson, and P.M. Richards. 2000. Anolis sagrei (brown anole)

cannibalism. Herpetological Review 31(3):173-174.

Paterson, A.V. 1999. Effects of prey availability on perch height of female bark anoles,

Anolis distichus. Herpetologica 55:242-247.

Paterson, A.V. 1998. A new capture technique for arboreal lizards. Herpetological Review

29(3):159.

Manuscripts in preparation

Paterson, A.V. Effects of social instability on interactions in an artificial territorial

neighborhood of brown anoles, Anolis sagrei.

Paterson, A.V. Long-range movement by bark anoles, Anolis distichus.

Paterson, A.V. and K. E. Nicholson. The effects of tail autotomy on territory establishment

by brown anoles (Anolis sagrei).