Lawrence C. Spezzano Jr.

Lawrence C. Spezzano Jr. M.S. student

Address: Lawrence C. Spezzano Jr. Department of Biological Sciences, ML006 University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0006 Telephone: (513) 556-5696 FAX: (513) 556-5299 Email: spezzalc@email.uc.edu Office: 1403 Crosley Tower

Many studies have correlated gross morphology to a broad range of habitat use, especially with regards to the running performance of vertebrates. The sprinting performance of lizards within the Anolis genus has been correlated with limb length and the diameters of surfaces in laboratory studies, but very little is known regarding how limbs are moved as surface diameter and incline changes. Thus, in the laboratory, I will experimentally manipulate surface diameter and perch angle to determine their effects on the kinematics of the brown anole, Anolis sagrei. Currently, I am looking at Anolis sagrei and its steady-speed (<10% change in forward velocity between strides) locomotion to determine the effects of incline and surface diameter on kinematics. I am examining locomotion on four round surfaces with diameters of 1,3,6 and 10 cm and three inclines level 45° and 90°. These diameters correspond to approximately 10%, 30%, 60% and 100% of the total hind limb span (from the tip on one hind limb to the other).

I use a custom video digitizing program (Measurement TV, Datacrunch, Inc.) and macros for Excel to perform three-dimensional frame-by-frame analysis of video image. Specific hypotheses tested will include: 1. As surface diameter decreases, stride widths will be decreased be increased adduction of the femur and increased flexion of the knee, 2. As surface diameter decreases, the long axis of the foot will be oriented more laterally to help gain purchase and lastly, 3. Based on data from species of terrestrial iguanian lizards (Jayne and Irschick, 1999), there will be significant effects of incline on the hind limb kinematics of Anolis sagrei including decreased hip height, greater knee and ankle flexion, lesser vertical excursion of the hip and more laterally oriented feet compared to the level surface.