Data from: Convergent evolution in the territorial communication of a classic adaptive radiation: Caribbean Anolis lizards

To demonstrate adaptive convergent evolution, it must be shown that shared phenotypes have evolved independently in different lineages and that a credible selection pressure underlies adaptive evolution. There are a number of robust examples of adaptive convergence in morphology for which both these criteria have been met, but examples from animal behaviour have rarely been tested as rigorously. Adaptive convergence should be common in behaviour, especially behaviour used for communication, because the environment often shapes the evolution of signal design. In this study we report on the origins of a shared design of a territorial display among Anolis species of lizards from two island radiations in the Caribbean. These lizards perform an elaborate display that consists of a complex series of headbobs and dewlap extensions. The way in which these movements are incorporated into displays is generally species specific, but species on the islands of Jamaica and Puerto Rico also share fundamental aspects in display design, resulting in two general display types. We confirm these display types are convergent (the consequence of independent evolution on each island) and provide evidence that the convergence was driven by selection for enhanced signal efficiency. Our study shows how adaptation to common environmental variables can drive the evolution of adaptive, convergent signals in distantly related species.要证明适应性趋同演化，需证实共享表型在不同演化支系中独立演化，且适应性演化背后存在可靠的选择压力。目前已有诸多符合上述两项标准的形态学适应性趋同演化可靠案例，但动物行为领域的相关案例极少经过如此严谨的检验。适应性趋同现象在行为（尤其是用于通讯的行为）中本应较为普遍，因为环境往往会塑造信号设计的演化路径。本研究聚焦加勒比海两类经岛屿辐射演化的安乐蜥（Anolis）物种，报道其领地展示行为共享设计模式的起源。这些蜥蜴会展现一套复杂的展示行为，包含一系列连贯的点头动作以及颈扇（dewlap）伸展动作。通常而言，这些动作在展示中的编排方式具有物种特异性，但牙买加与波多黎各岛上的物种在展示设计上共享核心特征，由此形成两类通用的展示模式。我们证实这两类展示模式属于趋同演化（即两岛各自独立演化的结果），并提供证据表明该趋同演化是由提升信号效率的选择压力所驱动。本研究揭示了对共同环境变量的适应，如何推动亲缘关系较远的物种演化出适应性趋同的通讯信号。