A DATA SET is a series of observations collected by the same methodology. Each data set should have documentation sufficient for someone unfamiliar with the research to replicate the study. Data sets may be broken into subsets (data files) that are discrete in space and time, in that order. The documentation for a data set should include all spatial and temporal subdivisions of the data.

(Data, Abstract, Methods, Variables)

NOTES:

• Add rows to tables or lines to paragraphs as you need them for entering your data.
• Contact emelendez@lternet.edu if you have any question.
• See online Guidelines (http://luq.lternet.edu/datamng/imdocs/division.html) to help you fill this form

PERSON(S) COMPLETING THIS FORM: E-MAIL ADDRESS:

DATA SET IDENTIFIER: Anole ground level transects (Bisley and El Verde)

PROJECT TITLE: Anole Population Dynamics

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The population activity, abundance, density, and spatial distribution of anoline lizards (genus Anolis) were investigated in tabonuco rain forest of the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico. A summary of the aspects of anole biology relevant to food web structure and organization in tabonuco forest were developed from these studies.

The anole activity in different habitats was studied in relation to the changes in canopy structure before and after Hurricane Hugo (September 1989). The drastic reduction in canopy structure immediately following the hurricane confined anole activity to the lower few meters of the forest. Anolis stratulus, a canopy species, apparently responded to changes in microclimate. Relative abundance estimates based on vertical transect surveys were A. stratulus (82%), A. gundlachi (11%), and A. evermanni (7%). Vertical surveys documented that A. stratulus was the most abundant anole species in the forest and inhabited the canopy at estimated population densities of 25,870ñ 7005 (dry season) and 21,333 ñ 6638 (wet season) individuals/ha. Field studies demonstrated the importance of small diameter perches in the structural habitat of this species. Individual A. stratulus occupy small, ellipsoidal home ranges and/or territories (males only) with a mean diameter of 6.2 ñ 1.2 m layered within the 10-14 m thick canopy. This three-dimensional habitat partitioning has not previously been noted for a vertebrate species and may account for the ability of A. stratulus to reach extremely high population densities.

On Caribbean islands where there are no large animals such as those found in mainland ecosystems (e.g., tapirs, jaguars), anoles constitute a substantial portion of the total animal biomass. Their abundance, widespread ecological distribution, and functional role as higher order consumers make them important components of insular animal communities throughout the Caribbean. Recent studies have demonstrated their importance in structuring food webs on Caribbean islands (Schoener and Toft 1983; Schoener and Spiller 1987), and Reagan (1986) described the role of anoles as important consumers in the food web of tabonuco forest at El Verde.

LTER CORE AREAS: (Annotate all that apply)

Population Dynamics

LEF LTER 1 RESEARCH TOPIC: (Annotate all that apply)

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Populations

We define a data file as a component of a data set. A data set can have only one data file or more. Basically, different data files have different data structures or format.
DATA SET FILES (SUBSETS):

Data File No.	Data File Identifier	On-Line Filename	Starting Date	Periodicity of sample	End Period
1	Anole Ground Level Transects (1989-1992)	AnoleGroundLevelTransect.txt	February 21, 1989	wet and dry seasons	October 21, 1992

RESEARCH LOCATION: El Verde transects (9ha Grid), Bisley tower area transects, Lower Cut Plot at Bisley (Whendee Silver's plot), Upper Cut Plot at Bisley (Whendee Silver's plot)

INVESTIGATORS:

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS E-MAIL address

Douglas P. Reagan

Douglas_Reagan@urscorp.com

OTHER RESEARCHERS E-MAIL address

Miguel A. García

CONTACT PERSONS E-MAIL address Phone Number (Include area code)

Douglas P. Reagan

Douglas_Reagan@urscorp.com

(303)688-0754

SOURCE OF FUNDING (SPONSOR): NSF - LEF LTER

DATA SET ABSTRACT: Transects are surveyed through the upper and lower cut plots at Bisley to determine the distribution and minimum abundance of anoles within and adjacent to the plots. Surveys began prior to cutting will continue seasonally (wet and dry) to document changes as the plots regenerate. One set of two transects has been established near the walkway towers in the 9 ha grid at El Verde. Each transect is 90 m long (wet 1989 and dry 1990) and 120 m long thereafter. Two transects, each 120 m long are established near the tower at Bisley. Survey methods and data recorded are the same for all transects, except that distance along the transect is recorded for cut plot transects only.

DATA SET METHODS: Two transects were established 10 m apart through the cut plots at Bisley. The transects through the lower plot are 90 m long; the 30 m wide plot taking up the central segment of each. Because of proximity to the access road, transects through the upper plot extend from the plot edge, through the plot and 30 m into adjacent uncut forest. Each transect surveys is resurveyed three times (morning: 0700-1000 hrs, midday: 1000-1430 hrs, and afternoon: 430-1800 hrs) during wet and dry seasons annually. Data collected include species, sex/age, perch height, perch substrate, perch diameter, distance along transect (m), and distance from centerline of the transect (nearest 0.1 m).

Identical data are recorded for the two sets of ground level transects established within the 9 ha and Bisley grids, except that distance along transects is not recorded (see abstract).

REFERENCES:
Overton, W.S. 1971. Estimating the numbers of animals in wildlife populations. in R.H. Giles, Jr., ed. Wildlife Management Techniques. Wildlife Society, Washington, D.C.

CROSS-REFERENCES (other data sets related to this one): Lterdb02:Anoline Lizard Treefall Gap Transect Data , Lterdb04: Anole Vertical Transects (tower DATA), Lterdb05: Anole Mark and Resight Study, Lterdb06: Anole Grid Study; Lterdb24: Anole Food Habits

SAMPLE LOCATION: N/A

STORAGE SITES (of data files): LUQ LTER Data Manager's Cabinet DM333-001, Drawer #1

INVESTIGATOR'S ASSIGNED KEYWORDS: anole, populations, population density, relative abundance, lizards, reptiles

LEF LTER OFFICIAL KEYWORDS (See table): EL VERDE, TABONUCO, CLIMATE,
RAINFALL, PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL

PUBLICATIONS:
Reagan, D.P. 1991. The response of Anolis lizards to hurricane-induced habitat changes in a Puerto Rican forest. Biotropica 23:468-474.

Reagan, D.P. 1992. Congeneric species distribution and abundance in a three-dimensional habitat: the rain forest Anoles of Puerto Rico. Copeia 1992:392-403.

Reagan, D.P. 1995. Lizard ecology in the canopy of an island rain forest. Chapter 7 in M. Lowman and N. Nadkarni, editors. Forest canopies. Academic Press, Inc., Orlando, Florida.

Reagan, D.P. 1996. Anoline lizards. Pages 321-345 in D. P. Reagan and R. B. Waide, editors. The food web of a tropical rain forest. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois.

DISSEMINATION: UNRESTRICTED

REASONS TO RESTRICT DATA IN THIS DATA SET BEYOND ITS TWO YEAR POLICY PERIOD*:

*WILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY LTER PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS: N. BROKAW, A. LUGO

FILING
___ "File" copy only : Data Management will only file an electronic copy of the data file and its documentation
X "Enter" data on-line : Data Management will be in charge of entering the data on computer files (Contact Eda C. Meléndez)

SITES DESCRIPTIONS:

Geographical positional system (GPS) Coordinates for each location:

location	latitude	longitude
9 Ha Grid Transects
Bisley tower area Transects
Lower Cut Plot at Bisley
Upper Cut Plot at Bisley

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES): (These variables are part of the the following data sets: LTERDBAS # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 24)

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)	1	1	1	1	1
ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)	HEIGHT	DISTANCE_FROM_CENTERLINE	SUBSTRATE	DIAMETER	COMMENTS
NAME OF VARIABLE	Perch Height	Distance from central line	Perch substrate	Perch diameter	Additional information
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	Height above ground level	Distance from central axis of vertical transect to the lizard	Length of underlying line where lizard was observed	Diameter of a pole or rod, usually horizontal, serving as a roost for the lizard	Comments, prey length in mm, miscellaneous observations, including color of enamel used, Maximum length of the prey item in mm
UNIT	meters	meters	centimeters	centimeters
PRECISION	0.1	0.1		0.1
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES		0.0 to 8.0
DATA TYPE	decimal	decimal	alphanumeric	decimal	alphanumeric
MISSING DATA CODES	blank	blank	blank	blank	blank

COMPUTATIONAL METHODS:

Variable Name	Formula

FOR DATA MANAGER USE ONLY

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: October 30, 2008
DATE OF LAST ENTRY: 1992
STAGE OF DATA SET MANAGEMENT (dates):
RECEIVED ENTERED: 7/90
FILED ON-LINE REVIEWED BY RESEARCHER
FILING MEDIA:
NAME OF DOCUMENTATION FILE: lterdb01.htm, original files: SLEVBLI1.POP, LTERDB-1.FM1, lterdb01.htm
NAME OF ON - LINE CATALOG: LTERDBAS
RECORD #: 1
DOCUMENT TYPE: magnetic media (paper also)
PRIORITY TO BE ENTERED: second

Rev. date of this form: 8 June 2001