How Do Scientists "Do" Science?

The public generally doesn't get a chance to "look behind" the research of scientists that they use to answer the questions they are asking. Science is hard work, and it takes time and determination.

Here’s field scientist James Stroud, using a modified fishing pole to capture an anole lizard at the Fairchild Gardens just south of Miami. He wears long sleeves despite the heat to protect himself from mosquitoes.

Researching the Researchers

In October, 2019, I travelled to south Florida to follow the field work of James Stroud, who studies the ecology of lizards in the anole family. Several different species of anoles share the island habitat Jame focuses on, and he studies how the populations of the lizards change over time.

I was learning about how scientists gather information about lizard evolution for my book “The Lizard Scientists Studying Evolution in Action.”

James provides a good example of how curious scientists study nature to learn how it works in the real world. Getting enough data to come to conclusions on what’s actually going on “out there” can require spending a lot of time doing sometimes difficult work both in nature and in the laboratory to get the kind of information that can help us understand natural systems,

I rented a small cottage about a mile from the Fairchild Gardens, which housed James’ research site. Fairchild welcomes researchers and plant-loving visitors alike.

Fairchild Gardens is known for its collection of beautiful orchids.

Every day for several hot, humid days I walked from my cottage to the Gardens. James and his assistant, Kamau Walker, had already been collecting specimens for hours by the time I got there around 10:30. They needed to work while it was still relatively cool, as the lizards were less active when it got really hot.

James and Kamau search amidst dense foliage and poking twigs to find their research subjects. When they find one, they capture it with a modified fishing pole, and gently place it in a small plastic bag with air blown in.

The scientists carefully mark the exact spot from which they captured each lizard with bands of tape. That way, they can return their subjects to their home place after they have been checked over in the lab.

When it gets really hot the lizards head for cool places and the scientists take their catch to their onsite laboratory. They spend the afternoon hours carefully measuring the lizards in great detail and noting all the data in computer files.

Here’s James in the lab, taking detailed measurements of an anole lizard he captured as part of his research He releases the lizards right where each was captured after they are measured. He returned to the same site year after year, capturing and measuring the lizards, to get the data he needed for his research.

Kamau checks on the photo he’s just taken of a lizard’s foot to show its toe pads, which show up as a lighter shade of blue than the rest of the foot. The toe pads help the lizards cling to branches and leaves as they move around in the foliage.

James checks on the tiny green label just under the skin of the lizard. Each lizard has a number so that it can be traced over the few years it’s alive to see how well it’s doing.

James’ research is especially valuable because he’s following his subjects over a period of years, which can show a lot about how the different species present on the island share the available space over time. He can see how certain traits are passed on from generation to generation, depending on the species and its interactions with the environment, including the presence of other species.

The first years of his research resulted in an important article in a widely read scientific journal. It’s rare for a scientist to be able to study the populations of different species in the same location over a period of years. An anole even managed to take over the valued cover photo of the journal.

This journal published by the National Academy of Sciences publishes articles that are of broad interest in the scientific world. James’ work has implications for topics such as evolution and ecology, for example.

The covid epidemic affected James’ research efforts but he’s back at it once again. At least one other species of anole has joined the island population, so James is glad to be able to continue studying this site to see how the new species affects the ecological balance on the island.

Note: The photos in this story are from James Stroud, Nate Dappen & Neil Losin, with permission, or from my collection.