Impact of Raccoons on Breeding Success in Large Colonies of Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls

Ellis, Julie C.; Shulman, Myra J.; Jessop, Holly; Suomala, Rebecca W.; Morris, Sara R.; Seng, Virginia; Wagner, Maureen; Mach, Katharine J.

doi:10.1675/1524-4695(2007)030[0375:iorobs]2.0.co;2

Cited by 27 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Similarly, partially as a consequence of habitat loss, the global waterbird population has decreased by 44 % in the few past years alone (Delany et al 2010) and numerous studies have reported notable declines in waterbirds on a local scale (Crowe et al 2008;Ma et al 2009;Sandilyan et al 2010). However, very little is known about the part played by invasive species in this decline, with the exception of the well-documented role of predatory alien mammals such as, for instance, the American mink Neovison vison (Nordström et al 2002;Brzeziński et al 2012) or the raccoon Procyon lotor (Ellis et al 2007). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An invasive gull displaces native waterbirds to breeding habitats more exposed to native predators

et al. 2014

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The effect of invasive opportunistic predators may include population changes in both native prey and native predators as well as alteration of predator-prey interactions. We analyzed the activity of native magpie Pica pica and changes in population, nest sites and nesting success probability of native waterbirds (namely: grebes, ducks, rails and native gulls) in response to the population growth of the invasive Caspian gull Larus cachinnans. The study was carried out at a reservoir in southern Poland and at a similar control reservoir where the Caspian gull was absent. Both the invasive gulls and the native magpie are opportunistic predators of nests of native waterbirds. The population increase of the invasive gull led to a decline in the population of native black-headed gulls Larus ridibundus only. However, the invasive gull displaced all the native species from the breeding islets located in the central part of the reservoir to islets located close to the shoreline. The latter were frequently visited by magpies, which depredated on nests along the shores, leading to an up to threefold decrease in nesting success as compared with nests located in the central area of the invaded reservoir. Predation by Caspian gulls was rarely observed. Thus, the invasion of Caspian gull caused complex direct and indirect effects on the waterbird community that included competition for breeding sites, changes in the spatial distribution of nests and alteration of predation rate by native predators. Moreover, the effects of invasion may not be reflected by changes in population size of native species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An invasive gull displaces native waterbirds to breeding habitats more exposed to native predators

et al. 2014

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“…It occupies a great variety of habitat types, including wetlands, marshes, forests, farmland and urban areas, and feeds on a large variety of food including plant material, vertebrates, invertebrates and rubbish (Zeveloff 2002). As an omnivorous predator, the raccoon can have a severely damaging impact on birds (especially waterfowl) and reptiles (Ratnaswamy et al 1997;Hartman et al 1997;Hartman and Eastman 1999;Zeveloff 2002;Elis et al 2007). The raccoon is considered one of the most chronic nuisance animals in North America; it can damage fields and garden plants, and can cause damage or other problems around houses (Conovery 1987;Beasley and Rhodes 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The genetic structure of raccoon introduced in Central Europe reflects multiple invasion pathways

et al. 2013

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Invasions of non-native species are of great concern as they have a devastating impact on native biodiversity and can also affect the economy of a region. Multiple introductions in several locations of a new range greatly promote the success of non-native species. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is an omnivore whose native distribution extends from southern Canada to Panama. It has been successfully introduced in many European countries. We examined the microsatellite and mitochondrial diversity of raccoon populations in Central Europe (Germany, Poland, and Czech Republic) in order to determine their introduction sources and pathways as well as the factors affecting genetic structure in this invasive species. We found low diversity of the mtDNA control region and moderate diversity of microsatellite markers. Raccoon showed three hierarchic levels of genetic structure which separate at different levels sampled from Czech Republic, Germany and raccoon inhabiting two different habitats in Poland. In Poland the raccoon population was established through migration from Germany to Czech Republic. Analysis of the intensity of migration between two different habitat types indicated source-sink dynamics in the Polish populations of raccoons. Our results confirm the high intensity of the raccoon invasion in Central Europe and point to specific measures needed as part of an effective management strategy.

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“…We also recorded the presence of American Mink on the island in , 2008and, more recently, Raccoon in 2010 Both are notorious consumers of eggs and the young of ground-nesting birds and Raccoons have a significant impact on gull colonies (Kadlec 1971;Ellis et al 2007). American Mink have also been predators in off-shore Nova Scotia tern colonies, such as those on Country Island and The Brothers (D'Eon 2005*).…”

Section: American Mink and Raccoonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decline in breeding of the Great Black-backed Gull, <em>Larus marinus</em>, and the Herring Gull, <em>L. argentatus</em>, on Boot Island, Nova Scotia, 1986 to 2010

MacKinnon¹,

Kennedy²

2014

Can Field Nat

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For over 50 years, Boot Island, Nova Scotia, has supported a significant mixed bird colony: Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus), Herring Gull (L. argentatus), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), and Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus). In 2002, the largest Great Black-backed Gull colony in Canada was located there. Over the last quarter century, the Herring Gull colony has shown a dramatic and near-linear decrease from 727 nests in 1986 to 67 in 2000; in 2010, only two nests remained. The number of Great Black-backed Gull nests has also declined by 44%, from 1467 nests in 1992 to 819 in 2010. These reductions may be partly attributed to factors external to the colony, such as changes in regional fisheries and better landfill management. However, a more immediate problem may be nest predation and disturbance by American Mink (Neovison vison), Raccoon (Procyon lotor), Coyote (Canis latrans), and Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

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Impact of Raccoons on Breeding Success in Large Colonies of Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls

Cited by 27 publications

References 29 publications

An invasive gull displaces native waterbirds to breeding habitats more exposed to native predators

An invasive gull displaces native waterbirds to breeding habitats more exposed to native predators

The genetic structure of raccoon introduced in Central Europe reflects multiple invasion pathways

Decline in breeding of the Great Black-backed Gull, <em>Larus marinus</em>, and the Herring Gull, <em>L. argentatus</em>, on Boot Island, Nova Scotia, 1986 to 2010

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