Kleptoparasitism in gulls Laridae at an urban and a coastal foraging environment: an assessment of ecological predictors
Spencer, Robert 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0860-4717, Russell, Yvan I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4608-4791, Dickins, Benjamin J. A. and Dickins, Thomas E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5788-0948
(2017)
Kleptoparasitism in gulls Laridae at an urban and a coastal foraging environment: an assessment of ecological predictors.
Bird Study, 64
(1)
.
pp. 12-19.
ISSN 0006-3657
[Article]
(doi:10.1080/00063657.2016.1249821)
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Abstract
Capsule: Kleptoparasitism in gulls occurred at a greater rate at an urban compared with a coastal site. Population density and prey size predicted the rate of kleptoparasitism at the urban site.
Aims: To investigate and assess the ecological variables associated with kleptoparasitism among gulls at urban and rural sites.
Methods: Field observations were conducted at Brancaster (coastal rural) and Billingsgate Market (urban) to examine differences in the rate of kleptoparasitism in mixed-species flocks of gulls. Four key variables (prey size, population density, season and species) were assessed as predictors of kleptoparasitism.
Results: Generalized linear models revealed significant effects on kleptoparasitism rate of site, population density and prey size, and two-way interactions between these main terms. Population density and prey size differed significantly between sites, but population density appeared to predict the rate of kleptoparasitism.
Conclusion: Kleptoparasitism may well aid invasion and increase the range of environments a gull can tolerate by helping them meet their energy needs in novel environments where normal foraging behaviours are difficult to implement.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Research Areas: | A. > School of Science and Technology > Psychology > Behavioural Biology group |
| Item ID: | 21577 |
| Notes on copyright: | This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Bird Study on 01/11/2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00063657.2016.1249821 |
| Useful Links: | |
| Depositing User: | Tom Dickins |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Apr 2017 13:16 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Nov 2022 21:18 |
| URI: | https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/id/eprint/21577 |
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