Environmentally associated colour divergence does not coincide with population structure across Lesser Antillean anoles.

This article investigates local adaptation and population genetic structure in three species of Lesser Antillean anoles—*Anolis gingivinus*, *A. lividus*, and *A. schwartzi*—across environmentally heterogeneous small islands. The study finds that while all species exhibit genetic isolation-by-distance, dorsal coloration variation correlates with environmental factors (not genetic structure), indicating local adaptation despite ongoing gene flow. Additionally, by comparing pre- and post-1995 Soufriere Hills volcanic eruption samples of *A. lividus* on Montserrat, the research reveals rapid population recovery without loss of genetic diversity, suggesting recolonization from genetically similar populations. These findings highlight the complexity of maintaining local adaptation in small insular systems and the nuanced effects of catastrophic natural disasters on island species’ genetic diversity and population structure.