A control taste aversion experiment on predators of roseate tern (Sterna dougallii) eggs |
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Authors: | V C Neves S Panagiotakopoulos R W Furness |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Biomedical, and Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK;(2) Present address: Ornithology Unit, IBLS—Graham Kerr Building, G12 8QQ Glasgow, UK |
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Abstract: | European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are responsible for high rates of egg predation at one of the main colonies of the endangered roseate tern (Sterna dougallii) in the Azores archipelago. Control taste aversion has been effective in controlling raven predation in a colony of California
least tern (Sterna antillarum browni), but there is little quantitative information about its efficacy on other species of predators taking eggs. We conducted
a control taste aversion experiment on yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) and European starlings eating eggs of terns in a mixed colony of common (Sterna hirundo) and roseate terns in the Azores. We treated quail (Coturnix coturnix) eggs with methiocarb and deployed them in artificial nests in the tern colony. On the first experiment, conducted before
the terns laid eggs, predation rates on quail eggs by yellow-legged gulls showed significant and rapid decrease after deployment
of treated eggs. During the second experiment, after the terns had started laying, results were mixed. Although predation
rates by European starlings on treated quail eggs decreased, predation rates on tern eggs did not. We conclude that control
taste aversion using methiocarb-treated eggs is likely to reduce depredation by gulls but not starlings because of the need
to pre-train the birds and the tendency of starlings to be attracted by the movement of adults, not the presence of nests. |
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Keywords: | Azores Egg predation European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Control taste aversion Methiocarb Yellow-legged gull Larus michahellis |
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