Infiltration of Ten Lizards into Cincinnati through a Sock, Leads to Exponential Population Growth and Now Thousands of Them Roam About.

In the heart of Ohio, a unique ecological experiment has been unfolding for decades, thanks to an unexpected introduction of exotic creatures. The Lazarus lizards, believed to have originated from Lake Garda in Italy, have made Cincinnati their permanent home, thriving in a city landscape that, surprisingly, mirrors their native climate.

The tale begins in 1951, when George Rau Jr., stepfather of Fred Lazarus Jr., who founded Macy's, smuggled 10 Italian lizards and released them in his backyard. Little did anyone know that this act would spark a population explosion, with the descendants of these smuggled lizards numbering in tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands today.

Eric Gangloff, a biology professor at Ohio Wesleyan University, has been at the forefront of the research into these resilient reptiles. Having previously studied Lazarus lizards in Europe, Gangloff has spent five years delving into the mysteries of these urban dwellers in Cincinnati.

The research, funded by a four-year grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, aims to identify the reasons for the species' flourishing in novel urban environments on a new continent after an introduction of so few animals. One of the key findings so far is that the Lazarus lizards prefer cooler temperatures in lower winds, a choice that was unexpected given their Mediterranean origins.

Another intriguing aspect of these lizards is their ability to reproduce without males due to extra chromosomes. This unique trait, combined with their resilience to heavy metals in the city, has sparked interest in the scientific community, with potential broader implications for human health. The lizards may provide insights into drug development for heavy metal resistance.

The Lizard League, a team of student researchers, studies the Lazarus lizards in a lab to understand their responses to different environmental conditions. Emma Foster, a neuroscience junior at Ohio Wesleyan, is part of this team and has found that the lizards do not seem impacted by lead toxicity.

The Lazarus lizards' habitat in Cincinnati, with its hilly terrain and stacked-rock retaining walls, offers numerous nooks, crannies, and crevices for the lizards to hide and access to underground areas for winter. This, coupled with a higher density than their typical density in Europe, with as many as 1,500 lizards packing into a single acre in some neighborhoods, could contribute to their population growth.

Interestingly, the Lizard League has found that the Lazarus lizards are getting larger and developing longer limbs, possibly to help them run from house cats, their primary urban predators.

Cincinnati's climate, remarkably similar to Milan, where the lizards originated, with year-round temperatures varying by only a few degrees Celsius and precipitation levels staying within the same 10-centimeter range each month, provides an ideal substitute for the lizards' native habitat.

This research could have far-reaching implications, not just for the understanding of urban ecology but also for human health, as the lizards may provide insights into drug development for heavy metal resistance. The story of the Lazarus lizards serves as a testament to the resilience of life and the unexpected ways it can adapt to new environments.

Infiltration of Ten Lizards into Cincinnati through a Sock, Leads to Exponential Population Growth and Now Thousands of Them Roam About.