Differences in aggression and nest behavior between herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and lesser black-backer gulls (Larus fuscus) on Lundy

Spencer, Robert ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0860-4717 and Dickins, Thomas E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5788-0948 (2014) Differences in aggression and nest behavior between herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and lesser black-backer gulls (Larus fuscus) on Lundy. Journal of the Lundy Field Society, 4 . pp. 85-104. ISSN 1758-3276 [Article]

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Abstract

Herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) persist as distinct species by differentially exploiting shared environments. Differences in aggression and nesting behaviour were studied on Lundy using field observations in two neighbouring colonies. No significant differences were found in commission of aggression and nest attendance. In areas bereft of vegetation other nest characteristics mediated visibility of chicks and aggression at the nest. Herring gulls behaved similarly to Lesser Black backed gulls in this ecology; the results did not indicate that the Herring gull is significantly less well adapted to the offshore ecology of Lundy.

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