| Titre : | Kleptoparasitism in gulls Laridae at an urban and a coastal foraging environment: an assessment of ecological predictors (2017) |
| Titre original: | Kleptoparasitism in gulls Laridae at an urban and a coastal foraging environment |
| Auteurs : | Robert Spencer, Auteur ; Yvan I. Russell, Auteur ; Benjamin J. A. Dickins, Auteur ; Thomas E. Dickins, Auteur |
| Type de document : | Article |
| Dans : | Bird Study (64(1) janvier 2, 2017) |
| Article en page(s) : | 12-19 |
| Résumé : | 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. |
| En ligne : | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2016.1249821 |



