GPS tracking reveals landfill closures induce higher foraging effort and habitat switching in gulls.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Landfills are a major subsidy for some animals, with implications for their life history and demography. Gulls feed extensively on food from landfills and closures are expected to have ecological consequences, but how this influences movement ecology is virtually unknown.

Methods

We used GPS-tracking to quantify foraging behaviour and habitat choice of lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) breeding at two colonies before and after closure of two nearby landfills.

Results

Following closure, gulls from both colonies travelled further and for longer to forage. Gulls also changed habitat selection, although this differed by colony - birds from one colony shifted to agricultural habitats, while at the other, increased their use of urban areas. These behaviour

SUBMITTER: Langley LP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8588598 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature