Volume 50, No. 2
Volumes > 38 (2010-->)
- Volume 52, No. 1, 2024
- Volume 51, No. 2, 2023
- Volume 51, No. 1, 2023
- Volume 50, No. 2, 2022
- Volume 50, No. 1, 2022
- Volume 49, No. 2, 2021
- Volume 49, No. 1, 2021
- Volume 48, No. 2, 2020
- Volume 48, No. 1, 2020
- Volume 47, No. 2, 2019
- Volume 47, No. 1, 2019
- Volume 46, No. 2, 2018
- Volume 46, No. 1, 2018
- Volume 45, No. 2, 2017
- Volume 45, No. 1, 2017
- Volume 44, No. 2, 2016
- Volume 44, No. 1, 2016
- Volume 43, No. 2, 2015
- Volume 43, No. 1, 2015
- Volume 42, No. 2, 2014
- Volume 42, No. 1, 2014
- Volume 41, No. 2, 2013
- Volume 41, No. 1, 2013
- Volume 41, Special Issue, 2013
- Volume 40, No. 2, 2012
- Volume 40, No. 1, 2012
- Volume 39, No. 2, 2011
- Volume 39, No. 1, 2011
- Volume 38, No. 2, 2010
- Volume 38, No. 1, 2010
Volumes 28-37 (2000-09)
- Volume 37, No. 3, 2009
- Volume 37, No. 2, 2009
- Volume 37, No. 1, 2009
- Volume 36, No. 2, 2008
- Volume 36, No. 1, 2008
- Volume 35, No. 2, 2007
- Volume 35, No. 1, 2007
- Volume 34, No. 2, 2006
- Volume 34, No. 1, 2006
- Volume 33, No. 2, 2005
- Volume 33, No. 1, 2005
- Volume 32, No. 2, 2004
- Volume 32, No. 1, 2004
- Volume 31, No. 2, 2003
- Volume 31, No. 1, 2003
- Volume 30, No. 2, 2002
- Volume 30, No. 1, 2002
- Volume 29, No. 2, 2001
- Volume 29, No. 1, 2001
- Volume 28, No. 2, 2000
- Volume 28, No. 1, 2000
Volumes 18-27 (1990-99)
- Volume 27, No. 1 & 2, 1999
- Volume 26, No. 1 & 2, 1998
- Volume 24, No. 1 & 2, 1996
- Volume 25, No. 1 & 2, 1997
- Volume 23, No. 2, 1995
- Volume 23, No. 1, 1995
- Volume 22, No. 2, 1994
- Volume 22, No. 1, 1994
- Volume 21, No. 1 & 2, 1993
- Volume 20, No. 1 & 2, 1992
- Volume 19, No. 1, 1991
- Volume 18, No. 1 & 2, 1990
Volumes 5-17 (1978-89) a.k.a 'Cormorant'
- Volume 17, No. 1 & 2, 1989
- Volume 16, No. 1, 1988
- Volume 16, No. 2, 1988
- Volume 15, No. 1 & 2, 1987
- Volume 14, No. 1 & 2, 1987
- Volume 13, No. 2, 1986
- Volume 13, No. 1, 1986
- Volume 12, No. 2, 1985
- Volume 12, No. 1, 1985
- Volume 11, No. 1 & 2, 1984
- Volume 10, No. 2, 1983
- Volume 10, No. 1, 1983
- Volume 9, No. 2, 1982
- Volume 9, No. 1, 1982
- Volume 8, No. 2, 1981
- Volume 8, No. 1, 1981
- Volume 7, 1980
- Volume 5, 1978
Search by author or title:
Breeding parameters of Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis in the largest Moroccan colony: Natural versus urban nesting sites
Citation
BELLOUT, S., AIT BAAMRANE, M.A. & AOURIR, M. 2022. Breeding parameters of Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis in the largest Moroccan colony: Natural versus urban nesting sites. Marine Ornithology 50: 215 - 223
Received 01 February 2022, accepted 19 July 2022
Date Published: 2022/10/15
Date Online: 2022/09/22
Key words: Cape Town, non-breeding distribution, dispersal
Abstract
We investigated the main differences in the breeding ecology of Yellow-legged Gulls Larus michahellis nesting in urban (city of Essaouira) and natural (Mogador Island) environments on the African Atlantic coast of west-central Morocco during the 2018 and 2019 breeding seasons. This Yellow-legged Gull population is the largest in the southern portion of this species' range, making it excellent for research on the breeding biology of marginal populations. Over two years, we collected data on nest density, chronology, clutch size, egg dimensions, and hatching success from nests across the city and island. Results showed that nest density averaged 1.26 ± 1.03 nests/ha (126 ± 103 nests/km2) in the urban areas and 442 ± 254.56 nests/ha in the natural areas. The laying period was significantly longer at Mogador Island, lasting more than 20 weeks on average and occurring in two egg-laying peaks. Hatching success (number of hatched eggs per nest) in the whole study area averaged 86.04% ± 23.01% and was similar between seasons and habitats. Fledging success (number of chicks surviving over 40 days per hatched egg) and breeding success (number of chicks surviving over 40 days per laid egg) in the urban area averaged 54.98% ± 23.93% and 46.52% ± 22.01%, respectively. In both natural and urban habitats, the high hatching success rates, which are the highest values reported among North African colonies, may explain the rapid growth of this population.
References
ANNETT, C.A. & PIEROTTI, R. 1999. Long-term reproductive output in Western Gulls: Consequences of alternate tactics in diet choice. Ecology 80: 288-297. doi:10.1890/0012-9658(1999)080[0288:LTROIW]2.0.CO;2
BAALOUDJ, A., SAMRAOUI, F., ALFARHAN, A.H. & SAMRAOUI, B. 2014. Phenology, nest-site selection and breeding success of a North African colony of the Yellow-Legged Gull, Larus michahellis. African Zoology 49: 213-221. doi:10.3377/004.049.0203
BAILLY, J., FAIVRE, B., BERNARD, N. ET AL. 2017. Multi-element analysis of blood samples in a passerine species: excesses and deficiencies of trace elements in an urbanization study. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 5: 6. doi:10.3389/fevo.2017.00006
BEAUBRUN, P.-C. 1988. Le goéland leucophée (Larus cachinnans michahellis) au Maroc : reproduction, alimentation, répartition et déplacements en relation avec les activités de pêche. PhD dissertation. Montpellier, France: Université de Montpellier.
BEAUBRUN, P.-C. 1993. Status of Yellow-legged Gull (Larus cachinnans) in Morocco and in the Western Mediterranean. In: AGUILAR, J.S., MONBAILLIU, X. & PATERSON, A.M. (Eds.) Status and Conservation of Seabirds. Proceedings of the 2nd Mediterranean Seabird Symposium, Calviá, 21-26 March 1989. Madrid, Spain: Medmaravis.
BELANT, J.L. & SEAMANS, T.W. 1993. Evaluation of dyes and techniques to color-mark incubating Herring Gulls. Journal of Field Ornithology 64: 440-451.
BELLOUT, S., AIT BAAMRANE, M.A., AAMIRI, A. & AOURIR, M. 2021. Changes in the population size of Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis at Essaouira and Mogador Island, west-central Morocco. Marine Ornithology 49: 101-107.
BIROUK, A. & MOULAÏ, R. 2021. Can human activities have an impact on the demography of the Yellow-legged Gull, Larus michahellis in north-eastern Algeria? Studia Universitatis “Vasile Goldiş”, Seria Ştiinţele Vieţii 31: 105-112.
BLIGHT, L.K., BERTRAM, D.F. & KROC, E. 2019. Evaluating UAV-based techniques to census an urban-nesting gull population on Canada's Pacific coast. Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems 7: 312-324. doi:10.1139/juvs-2019-0005
BORGO, E., CECCARANI, G. & SPANO, S. 1991. Il Gabbiano reale Larus cachinnans Pallas sull isola Bergeggi (Liguria occidental). Bollettino dei Musei e degli Istituti Biologici dell'Università di Genova 54-55: 91-116.
BOSCH, M., ORO, D., CANTOS, F.J. & ZABALA, M. 2000. Short-term effects of culling on the ecology and population dynamics of the Yellow-legged Gull. Journal of Applied Ecology 37: 369-385. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2664.2000.00501.x
BOSCH, M. & SOL, D. 1998. Habitat selection and breeding success in Yellow-legged Gulls Larus cachinnans. Ibis 140: 415-421. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1998.tb04602.x
BOUGAHAM, A.F. & MOULAÏ, R. 2013. Aspects démographiques et chronologie d'installation des nids du Goéland Leucophée (Larus michahellis) dans la région de Jijel (Algérie). Lebanese Science Journal 14: 3-13.
BOUKROUMA, N., TOUARFIA, M., DERABLIA, L. & TOUAHRIA, S. 2021. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) in Oued Charef dam (Souk Ahras, Northeastern Algeria). Analele Universitatii din Oradea, Fascicula Biologie 28: 137-142.
BOURRET, A. & GARANT, D. 2015. Candidate gene-environment interactions and their relationships with timing of breeding in a wild bird population. Ecology and Evolution 5: 3628-3641. doi:10.1002/ece3.1630
BUCKLEY, P.A., & MCCARTHY, M.G. 1994. Insects, vegetation, and the control of Laughing Gulls (Larus atricilla) at Kennedy International Airport, New York City. Journal of Applied Ecology 31: 291-302. doi:10.2307/2404544
CHRISTIANS, J.K. 2002. Avian egg size: variation within species and inflexibility within individuals. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 77: 1-26.
CORTES, J. & AMEZIAN, M. 2006. Nesting sites of the Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis in north-eastern Morocco. In: GARCIA, E. (Ed.) Gibraltar Bird Report, number 6. Gibraltar: Gibraltar Ornithological & Nature History Society.
COULSON, J.C. & COULSON, B.A. 2008. Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus nesting in an inland urban colony: the importance of earthworms (Lumbricidae) in their diet. Bird Study 55: 297-303. doi:10.1080/00063650809461535
DE NAUROIS, R. 1961. Recherches sur l'avifaune de la côte atlantique du Maroc, du détroit de Gibraltar aux îles de Mogador (1ère partie). Alauda 29: 241-259.
DELANY, S. & SCOTT, D. 2006. Waterbird Population Estimates, Fourth Edition. Wageningen, The Netherlands: Wetlands International.
DERRADJI, N. & MOULAÏ, R. 2020. Ampleur de la nidification urbaine du Goéland leucophée Larus michahellis dans la capitale Alger (Algérie). Alauda 88: 281-288.
DOLBEER, R.A., WORONECKI, P.P., SEAMANS, T.W., BUCKINGHAM, B.N. & CLEARY, E.C. 1990. Herring Gulls, Larus argentatus, nesting on Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, 1989. Ohio Journal of Science 90: 87-89.
DUHEM, C., BOURGEOIS, K., VIDAL, E. & LEGRAND, J. 2002. Influence de l'accessibilité des ressources anthropiques sur les paramètres reproducteurs de deux colonies de Goélands leucophées Larus michahellis. Revue d'Écologie - la Terre et la Vie 57: 343-353.
FORSLUND, P. & PÄRT, T. 1995. Age and reproduction in birds — hypotheses and tests. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 10: 374-378. doi:10.1016/S0169-5347(00)89141-7
GALARZA, A. 2015. ¿Está disminuyendo la población de gaviota patiamarilla cantábrica Larus michahellis lusitanius Naumann, 1840? Censo 2013/2014 de Bizkaia (País Vasco). Munibe, Ciencias naturales 63: 135-143.
GONZÁLEZ-SOLÍS, J., BECKER, P.H., JOVER, L. & RUIZ, X. 2004. Individual changes underlie age-specific pattern of laying date and egg-size in female Common Terns Sterna hirundo. Journal of Ornithology 145: 129-136.
HARRIS, M.P. 1964. Aspects of the breeding biology of the gulls Larus argentatus, L . fuscus and L. marinus. Ibis 106: 432-456.
HAYMES, G.T. & BLOKPOEL, H. 1980. The influence of age on the breeding biology of Ring-billed Gulls. The Wilson Bulletin 92: 221-228.
HOOPER, T.D. 1988. Habitat, reproductive parameters, and nest-site tenacity of urban-nesting Glaucous-winged Gulls at Victoria, British Columbia. The Murrelet 69: 10-14. doi:10.2307/3534880
HUNT, G.L., JR. 1972. Influence of food distribution and human disturbance on the reproductive success of Herring Gulls. Ecology 53: 1051-1061. doi:10.2307/1935417
JACOB, J.P. & COURBET, B. 1980. Oiseaux de mer nicheurs sur la côte algérienne. Le Gerfaut 70: 385-401.
KILPI, M., HILLSTROM, L. & LINDSTROM, K. 1996. Egg-size variation and reproductive success in the Herring Gull Larus argentatus: adaptive or constrained size of the last egg? Ibis 138: 212-217. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1996.tb04330.x
KROC, E. 2018. Reproductive ecology of urban-nesting Glaucous-Winged Gulls Larus glaucescens in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Marine Ornithology 46: 155-164.
MARZLUFF, J.M. 2001. Worldwide urbanization and its effects on birds. In: MARZLUFF, J.M., BOWMAN, R. & DONNELLY, R. (Eds.) Avian Ecology and Conservation in an Urbanizing World. New York, USA: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-1531-9
MONAGHAN, P. 1979. Aspects of the breeding biology of Herring gulls Larus argentatus in urban colonies. Ibis 121: 475-481. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1979.tb06687.x
MOULAÏ, R., SADOUL, N. & DOUMANDJI, S. 2005. Nidification urbaine et à l'intérieur des terres du Goéland leucophée Larus michahellis en Algérie. Alauda 73: 195-200.
MOULAÏ, R., SADOUL, N. & DOUMANDJI, S. 2006. Effectifs et biologie de la reproduction du Goéland leucophée Larus michahellis dans la région de Béjaia (Algérie). Alauda 74: 225-234.
NISBET, I.C.T., WINCHELL, J.M. & HEISE, A.E. 1984. Influence of age on the breeding biology of Common Terns. Colonial Waterbirds 7: 117-126.
OLSEN, K.M. 2004. Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. London, UK: Christopher Helm.
ORO, D., BOSCH, M. & RUIZ, X. 1995. Effects of a trawling moratorium on the breeding success of the Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans. Ibis 137: 547-549. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1995.tb03265.x
PARSONS, J. 1972. Egg size, laying date and incubation period in the Herring Gull. Ibis 114: 536-541. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1972.tb00855.x
PARSONS, K.C. & CHAO, J. 1983. Nest cover and chick survival in Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus). Colonial Waterbirds 6: 154-159. doi:10.2307/1520983
PERLUT, N.G., BONTER, D.N., ELLIS, J.C. & FRIAR, M.S. 2016. Roof-top nesting in a declining population of Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) in Portland, Maine, USA. Waterbirds 39: 68-73.
PONS, J.-M. 1993. Pourquoi le goéland argenté, Larus argentatus pond-il un troisième œuf plus petit que les deux précédents? Revue d'Écologie - la Terre et la Vie 48: 331-340.
ROYAUME DU MAROC. 2014. Population légale des régions, provinces, préfectures, municipalités, arrondissements et communes du royaume d'après les résultats du RGPH 2014 (12 régions) Recensement général de la population et de l'habitat. Rabat, Morocco: Haut-Commissariat au Plan du Maroc. [Accessed online at https://rgph2014.hcp.ma/downloads/Resultats-RGPH-2014_t18649.html on 21 August 2020.]
ROBERTSON, G.J., COOCH, E.G., LANK, D.B., ROCKWELL, R.F. & COOKE, F. 1994. Female age and egg size in the Lesser Snow Goose. Journal of Avian Biology 25: 149-155. doi:10.2307/3677034
RYDER, J.P. 1975. Egg-laying, egg size, and success in relation to immature-mature plumage of Ring-billed Gulls. The Wilson Bulletin 87: 534-542.
RYDER, J.P. 1980. The influence of age on the breeding biology of colonial nesting seabirds. In: BURGER, J., OLLA, B.L. & WINN, H.E. (Eds.) Behavior of Marine Animals: Current Perspectives in Research. Volume 4: Marine Birds. New York, USA: Plenum Press.
SHOCHAT, E. 2004. Credit or debit? Resource input changes population dynamics of city-slicker birds. Oikos 106: 622-626.
SIBLY, R.M. & MCCLEERY, R.H. 1983. The distribution between feeding sites of Herring Gulls breeding at Walney Island, U.K. Journal of Animal Ecology 52: 51-68. doi:10.2307/4587
SKÓRKA, P., WÓJCIK, J.D. & MARTYKA, R.L. 2005. Colonization and population growth of Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans in southeastern Poland: causes and influence on native species. Ibis 147: 471-482.
SOLDATINI, C., ALBORES-BARAJAS, Y.V., MAINARDI, D. & MONAGHAN, P. 2008. Roof nesting by gulls for better or worse? Italian Journal of Zoology 75: 295-303. doi:10.1080/11250000701884805
SPELT, A., WILLIAMSON, C., SHAMOUN-BARANES, J., SHEPARD, E., ROCK, P. & WINDSOR, S. 2019. Habitat use of urban-nesting Lesser Black-backed Gulls during the breeding season. Scientific Reports 9: 10527. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-46890-6
TALMAT-CHAOUCHI, N., BOUKHEMZA, M. & MOULAÏ, R. 2020. Bioécologie et écologie trophique du Goéland leucouphée au niveau du milieu urbain de Tigzirt (Grande Kabylie, Algérie). Bulletin de la Société zoologique de France 145: 35-47.
VARELA, J.M. & DE JUANA, E. 1986. The Larus cachinnans michahellis colony of Chafarinas Islands. In: MONBAILLIU, X. (Ed.) Mediterranean Marine Avifauna: Population Studies and Conservation. NATO ASI Series. Series G: Ecological Sciences, volume 12. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag.
ZORROZUA, N., ALDALUR, A., HERRERO, A. ET AL. 2020. Breeding Yellow-legged Gulls increase consumption of terrestrial prey after landfill closure. Ibis 162: 50-62. doi:10.1111/ibi.12701