Microbiomes are now known to provide numerous benefits to hosts, from immunity to reproductive success. Vertical transmission of microbes has been linked to improved offspring success, for example by protecting eggs from pathogens post-oviposition. Infection with pathogenic soil fungi is associated with mortality in soil-incubated eggs, but may be ameliorated by the transmission of beneficial microbes.To determine whether 1) maternal microbes are deposited on eggs during oviposition, and 2) whether they have an antifungal effect that increases hatching success, we conducted challenges between dissected or oviposited eggs from the striped plateau lizard (Sceloporus virgatus) and fungi from failed S. virgatus eggs. Unique fungal and bacterial morphs were isolated from eggs to identify potential pathogenic fungi and antifungal bacteria. Direct challenges were carried out between individual bacteria and fungi to assess antifungal capabilities of bacteria isolated from the S. virgatus eggshell microbiome. Dissected eggs (no contact with the cloaca) had significantly lower hatch success, and hatchlings from dissected eggs were significantly smaller and lighter than those from oviposited eggs, indicating that some element of oviposition is key for hatchling success. One bacterial genus (Enterobacter) was found in the cloacae of females and on eggshells, suggesting that vertical transmission may be occurring. Three fungi were found to dominate the eggshell community of both dissected and oviposited eggs exposed to multiple fungi, suggesting that they may be responsible for egg mortality. At least two of these species of fungi have known pathogenic effects in other reptiles, and may produce antibacterial and antifungal metabolites.These results suggest an antagonistic relationship between fungi and bacteria on S. virgatus eggshells, indicating that bacteria transmitted during oviposition may improve hatch success in this species. Additionally, vertical transmission of beneficial microbes may serve as a form of parental care and occur via a novel pathway, the cloaca.

Many widespread species show morphological variation across the unique habitats and climates they inhabit. For reptiles these morphological adaptations such as limb length or body depth are often correlated with habitat use and substrate types. Additionally, body size trends and the degree of pigmentation of reptiles, driven by thermoregulatory requirements, can correspond with the elevation and climate of populations. The blue ventral coloration of Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) is a social signaling device and can also be a byproduct of increased melanism in response to thermally challenging environments. I used handheld and photo analysis methods to obtain head, body, and limb measurements in addition to quantifying belly and throat coloration from S. occidentalis in Washington State at a high elevation creek canyon population, a low elevation forest population, and a coastal beach population. I found that high elevation creek canyon lizards used rock perches 69% of the time, low elevation forest lizards used trees 67% of the time, and beach lizards perched on driftwood 97% of the time. Given this distinct substrate use, my morphological data suggests adaptations between populations. Rock lizards had the longest front fore-limbs which could result in increased running speed to optimally navigate their open rocky habitat. Forest lizards had the shortest front fore-limbs possibly due to reduced running reliance, as they specialized in arboreal perches. Driftwood lizards had the skinniest body condition that could optimize them for cracks in driftwood logs they relied on. Beach lizards had bluer and darker bellies than high elevation lizards, and bluer throat patches than the other two sites. My study suggests morphological and signalling adaptations among populations of S. occidentalis at the species’ geographic extreme, and demonstrates how habitat and climate selection pressures create intraspecific variation between populations of widespread species.