Inter- and intrapopulation resource use variation of marine subsidized western fence lizards

Abstract

Marine resource subsidies alter consumer dynamics of recipient populations in coastal systems. The response to these subsidies by generalist consumers is often not uniform, creating inter- and intrapopulation diet variation and niche diversification that may be intensified across heterogeneous landscapes. We sampled western fence lizards, Sceloporus occidentalis, from Puget Sound beaches and coastal and inland forest habitats, in addition to the lizards’ marine and terrestrial prey items to quantify marine and terrestrial resource use with stable isotope analysis and mixing models. Beach lizards had higher average δ13C and δ15N values compared to coastal and inland forest lizards, exhibiting a strong mixing line between marine and terrestrial prey items. Across five beach sites, lizard populations received 20–51% of their diet from marine resources, on average, with individual lizards ranging between 7 and 86% marine diet. The hillslope of the transition zone between marine and terrestrial environments at beach sites was positively associated with marine-based diets, as the steepest sloped beach sites had the highest percent marine diets. Within-beach variation in transition zone slope was positively correlated with the isotopic niche space of beach lizard populations. These results demonstrate that physiography of transitional landscapes can mediate resource flow between environments, and variable habitat topography promotes niche diversification within lizard populations. Marine resource subsidization of Puget Sound beach S. occidentalis populations may facilitate occupation of the northwesternmost edge of the species range. Shoreline restoration and driftwood beach habitat conservation are important to support the unique ecology of Puget Sound S. occidentalis.