We have a new paper out today from the Greek Island system! As readers know, we’ve been tracking the Aegean Wall lizards introduced to the Greek experimental islets back in 2014. The experimental islets are predator-free, and so the lizard populations have really taken off. With this increase in lizard numbers, we’ve been finding signs … More Rapid and repeated shifts in chemical signals in Greece
Here’s the island of Petalida, one of the two islets we’re working on in the stretch of sea between Paros and Antiparos. It’s one of our favorite islands for catching lizards because it’s covered by a plush carpet of short, soft plants. Enjoy the video! Next up is the final island – Kambana.
I’m trying something a bit different this year: I bought a special cord that lets me enter a measurement directly from my calipers into my data spreadsheet. I’m hoping it’s going to save time ultimately (though I’m still recording everything on paper for backup). Because of the way the input is set up, it’s easier … More Column QC
We’ve just finished the first week of the 2018 introduction island survey and the lizard populations are doing well! Week 1 was focused on the islands to the north of Paros in the Bay of Naoussa: Galiatsos, Mavronissi, and Agios Artemios. The population densities on Mavronissi and Agios Artemios have remained about constant since last … More One week into lizard surveying
We’re in Greece and heading out to check on the introduction island lizards starting on Monday. Last year we found 355 lizards and this year, trying to make sure I bring enough supplies, I’ve been polling friends to guess just how many we’re liable to find. Well, all the vials are packed, and I’m not … More Guess the number of lizards
This spring is flying by and now it’s time to head to Greece. I’m eager to see what tales the Introduction Islands have to tell. Even more so, I’m just excited to get back to Naxos. Every year I go back, I get more excited to reconnect with this incredibly special corner of the world. … More Next stop, Greece
I’ve posted a lot of really pretty drone pictures and video these last six months and I’m realizing that this drone is actually pretty exciting tool for science communication. A reporter the other day said that she’d watched my Redonda video as part of her background research and it really helped her get a feel for … More Drones to data
Greece came and went this year faster than it ever has before. I think it had to do with the fact that it was the third of my field expeditions this spring. Maybe it had something to do with the only three days at home between returning from the Bahamas and leaving for Athens. Much … More Back from Greece!
The Redonda posts have trailed off because I’m neck-deep in prepping for the next two trips this field season. I’ve still got a few more Redonda stories in mind to write up though so I’ll try to get them posted before I leave next week. I have to tell you about the next trips though! Next Saturday I’m headed … More More fieldwork on the horizon
I’m about to fall into bed after and before another big day of lizard catching tomorrow but just a quick update because I’m really excited. The island manipulation experiment is working! We’ve revisited two of the islands so far – actually the two least productive I think – and the lizards have made it. What’s … More It’s Working!
Colin Donihue 