Understanding the influence of marine nutrients on insectivorous and herbivorous reptiles in the Gulf of California islands.

ABSTRACT: Marine subsidies in the extremely arid islands of the northern Gulf of California have been shown to be important enhancing primary productivity and fueling the terrestrial food webs. This effect has been proved in plants, insects, lizards and rodents. The aims of our study were first to determine whether insectivorous lizards from a wide array of islands, including some in the central and southern part of the Gulf, are consuming marine derived products, and secondly to assess its impact on herbivore lizards as well. We hypothesized that the availability and use of marine nutrients for lizards would vary depending on island aridity, island size, and the presence of seabird colonies nearby. To test the hypothesis, we analyzed the isotopic niches of 13 populations of insectivorous lizards (g

SUBMITTER: Barraza-Soltero IK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12373247 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature