Diet of Yellow-legged Gull ( Larus michahellis ) chicks along the Spanish Western Mediterranean coast: the relevance of refuse dumps |
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Authors: | Raül Ramos Francisco Ramírez Carolina Sanpera Lluís Jover and Xavier Ruiz |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Animal Biology (Vertebrates), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av/Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;(2) Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, C/Casanova 143, 08015 Barcelona, Spain |
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Abstract: | In recent decades, the Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) has become a problematic species in many Mediterranean countries, mainly because it interferes with human interests. However,
this gull also has a negative impact on several other bird species, many of which are classified as endangered. Two different
European Union Action Plans are currently under development with the aim of decreasing the availability of food derived from
human activities, such as garbage and fishery discards, which are considered to be the main causes of the superpopulations
of this gull. Here, we describe the diet of Yellow-legged Gull chicks, with particular emphasis on establishing the dependence
of each population on refuse dumps, in order to forecast changes in gull population dynamics in response to the management
decisions being implemented. We sampled four colonies along the Western Mediterranean in Spain: the Medes Islands, the Ebro
Delta, the Columbretes Islands, and Mazarrón Island. To elucidate their feeding ecology and to avoid obtaining a discrete
estimation from a single sampling, we collected regurgitates from each colony three times throughout the chick-rearing period.
Slightly differential feeding habits were observed between chick age classes. Younger chicks in all four colonies tended to
be consistently provisioned with smaller prey such as invertebrates. Distinct uses of several foraging habitats among localities
were observed. In particular, the use of refuse dumps was common and abundant in two of the colonies: the Medes and Mazarrón
Islands. As a consequence of current management strategies, generalized reductions in Yellow-legged Gull populations and increases
in the consumption of alternative food resources to those of fishery discards and refuse scraps are expected. Finally, we
predict that decreased food availability will force some gulleries to increase predation on endangered species, thereby raising
a conservation concern.
X. Ruiz: deceased on 27 April 2008. |
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Keywords: | Dietary analysis Feeding ecology Fishery discards Landfill management Regurgitate |
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