Habitat Selection and Its Effect on Reproductive Output in the Herring Gull in Newfoundland

Pierotti, Raymond

doi:10.2307/1936804

Cited by 117 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…We chose gulls of the genus Larus for our study of the relationship between mate choice and reproductive success in hybrid zones because gulls are socially monogamous birds that show mate choice by both sexes combined with extensive male parental care (Burger 1981;Pierotti 1981Pierotti , 1987aMorris 1987). Male gulls establish the location of the breeding territory within specific habitat types and provide the bulk of food for females during egg formation and during chick rearing (Burger 1981;Pierotti 1981Pierotti , 1987a.…”

Section: Hybridization In Larus Gullsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hybridization In Larus Gullsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Male gulls establish the location of the breeding territory within specific habitat types and provide the bulk of food for females during egg formation and during chick rearing (Burger 1981;Pierotti 1981Pierotti , 1987a. Female choice appears to be based initially on quality of nesting territory, which can have a major impact on reproductive performance, especially if the habitat provides shelter from agonistic behavior and predation (Pierotti 1982(Pierotti , 1987a. Mate choice is reinforced by the rate and quality of food provided by the male, in that reproductive performance suffers and the female may desert the nest if adequate food is not provided (Pierotti 1987a;Pierotti andAnnett 1987, 1990;Annett and Pierotti 1999).…”

Section: Hybridization In Larus Gullsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bounded Hybrid Superiority in an Avian Hybrid Zone: Effects of Mate, Diet, and Habitat Choice

et al. 2000

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Abstract. There has been considerable debate in the study of hybrid zones as to whether hybrids may be superior to parental types within the area of contact (bounded hybrid superiority). In birds, naturally occurring hybridization is relatively common, and hybridization within this group always involves mate choice. If hybrids are superior, females choosing heterospecific mates should be expected to show higher fitness under the conditions prevalent in the hybrid zone. Hybrid superiority under these circumstances would reduce reinforcement and thereby help to maintain the hybrid zone. To examine this issue, we studied reproductive performances of hybrids and parental species of gulls (Larus occidentalis and Larus glaucescens) at two colonies within a linear hybrid zone along the west coast of the United States. This hybrid zone contains predominantly gulls of intermediate phenotype. Previous studies indicated that hybrids were superior to one or both parental types, but provided no data on possible mechanisms that underlie this hybrid superiority. Using a hybrid index designed specifically for these species, we identified to phenotype more than 300 individuals associated with nests, including both individual males and females within 73 pairs in the central portion of the hybrid zone and 74 pairs in the northern portion of the hybrid zone. There was little evidence of assortative mating, and what little there was resulted solely because of pairings within intergrades. In the central hybrid zone, females paired with hybrid males produced larger clutches and hatched and fledged more chicks compared with females paired to western gull males. This was a result of heavy predation on eggs in sand habitat, where male western gulls established territories. In contrast, many hybrid males established territories in vegetated cover that was less vulnerable to predation. In the northern part of the hybrid zone, clutch size did not differ among pair categories, however, there were differences in hatching and fledging success, with females paired to hybrid males showing better success compared to females paired to glaucous-winged gull males. Hybrids showed better hatching and fledging success in the north because hybrids are more like western gulls than glaucous-winged gulls in foraging behavior, taking a higher percentage of fish in their diet, which enhances chick growth and survival. This is believed to be the first documentation of bounded hybrid superiority that delineates the mechanisms that underlie hybrid superiority.

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Section: Hybridization In Larus Gullsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hybridization In Larus Gullsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hybridization In Larus Gullsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bounded Hybrid Superiority in an Avian Hybrid Zone: Effects of Mate, Diet, and Habitat Choice

et al. 2000

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“…On Great Island, herring gull breeding success was only 7 and 16% in 1992 and 1993, respec- Rodway unpubl, data), compared to 56-64% in 1976-1978(Pierotti 1982, and that of great black-backed gulls was 17 and 23'X1 in 1992 and 1993, respectively (H. M. Regehr & M. S. Rodway unpubl. data) compared to 42 ' X, on Gull Island in 1984 (Roy 1986).…”

Section: Food-stressed Predatory Gullsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactive effects of food shortage and predation on breeding failure of black-legged kittiwakes:indirect effects of fisheries activities and implications for indicator species

Regehr¹,

Montevecchi²

1997

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

131

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ABSTRACT. We investigated the roles of food shortage and predation in anticipated breeding failure of black-legged kittiwakes Rlssa trldactyla at Great Island, Kr~tless Bay, Newfoundland, Canada In 1992 and 1993, following widespread failure in 1991 Reduced and delayed availability of capelin Mallotus villosus, plus elimination of previously plentiful fish offal and discards following an eastern Canadian groundfish moratorium in 1992, induced food-stress on kitt~wakes and on large predatory Larus gulls. Breeding was late, a low proportion of pairs laid eggs, and egg and clutch sizes were small, indicating that feeding condlt~ons for kittiwakes were poor early in the season. Extreme food-stress resulted in low b r e e d~n g success of Larns gulls that turned to kittiwake eggs as an alternate food source. Forced egg predation by great black-backed gulls Larus marinus was the primary cause of low hatching success (10 to 11 %) in both years. Durations of incubation and chick-rearing shifts decreased following the inshore arrival of capelin, and chicks that hatched after capelin arrival survived longer than earlier hatched chicks. Unattended nests were uncommon, probably in response to predation. In 1992, earlier hatching, later capelin arrival, and apparent lack of alternate prey resulted in many chicks starving and poor fledging success (7%). In 1993, food appeared to be more available both before and after capelin arrival, parents were able to provision chicks, and fledging success was normal (68%) The interactive effects of food shortage and predation have important linplications for the use of kittiwakes as indicator species and for the indirect effects of fishery activities on seabird interactions. Kittiwake productivity also reflects the resource base of t h e~r predators and caution is required when llnking kittiwake breeding success to prey abundance. Moreover, fishery activities, such as the eastern Canadian groundfish morator~um that eliminated fish discards and offal for large scavenging gulls, can have profound second-order effects on other seabird species that are preyed on by scavengers.

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“…In ground-nesting seabirds, vegetation density or heights effectively protect the nest contents against finding or accessing by predators (Buckley & Buckley 1980, Burger & Gochfeld 1981, Pierotti 1982, Kim & Monaghan 2005. In this study, the nests with tall vegetation had lower probability to be taken than those with short vegetation only in the scale of nest-site.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Factors affecting egg predation in Black‐tailed Gulls

Kazama

2006

Ecological Research

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In colonial seabirds, nesting density, egg-laying date and microhabitat of nest affect the probability of eggs to be taken by avian predators. Jungle Crows (Corvus macrorhynchos) are dominant predator of eggs of Black-tailed Gulls (Larus crassirostris). Factors affecting the probability of gulls allowing the crows to attack their nests or depredate their eggs and probability of eggs to be taken were studied by direct observation and egg census, respectively. The effect of vegetation heights, position in the colony and the egg-laying date and those of neighbour nests on the probability of eggs to be taken were examined at multiple spatial scales. Gull nests were depredated more easily by larger groups of the crows. The nests in peripheral areas (< 4m from the edge of the colony) were also depredated more easily by the crows walking on the ground. Although the nests where eggs were laid early in the season were depredated more frequently, such nests nests synchronized highly in egg-laying within <2m radius were less likely to be depredated than less synchronized nests. The nests with tall vegetation were less likely to be depredated, though those having neighbour nests with tall vegetation were not. The number of the neighbour nests did not affect the probability of eggs to be taken. Anti-predation effects of nesting microhabitats vary with spatial scales at which the crows search and attack the nests of gulls.

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Habitat Selection and Its Effect on Reproductive Output in the Herring Gull in Newfoundland

Cited by 117 publications

References 20 publications

Bounded Hybrid Superiority in an Avian Hybrid Zone: Effects of Mate, Diet, and Habitat Choice

Bounded Hybrid Superiority in an Avian Hybrid Zone: Effects of Mate, Diet, and Habitat Choice

Interactive effects of food shortage and predation on breeding failure of black-legged kittiwakes:indirect effects of fisheries activities and implications for indicator species

Factors affecting egg predation in Black‐tailed Gulls

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