Dataset.

GPS database of juvenile, immature and adult tagged yellow-legged gulls inhabiting the urban ecosystem of Barcelona (Spain) related to the title: “Ontogeny of foraging behaviour in an opportunistic gull inhabiting urban marine ecosystems”

Digital.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
oai:digital.csic.es:10261/371973
Digital.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
  • Navarro, Joan
  • Martín-Vélez, Víctor
  • Giménez, Joan
  • García, José A.
  • Cermeño, Pablo
  • Figuerola, Jordi
  • Aymí, Raül
  • Montalvo, Tomás
Urbanization affects ecosystems by reducing biodiversity and displacing species from native habitats. While some suffer, others, like urban wildlife, adapt through innovative feeding and behaviours that improve their fitness in human-altered settings. Despite research on wildlife in urban areas, the development of foraging behaviour in urban species is still understudied. Here, we examined the age-related differences in the foraging behaviour of yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) in Barcelona (Spain), a densely populated coastal urban ecosystem. Using biologging technologies and trophic markers, we compared the foraging strategies, habitat use, human interactions, and trophic niches of juvenile, immature, and adult yellow-legged gulls over three breeding seasons. The results showed age-related differences in spatial distribution and foraging behaviour in this opportunistic species. Juveniles and immatures mainly foraged in ports and at sea, while adults favoured urban habitats. These patterns likely stem from reproductive constraints in adults and lower foraging efficiency in younger birds. Adults’ primary use of urban habitats also explains their higher trophic niche. Furthermore, fishing activity significantly influenced yellow-legged gull foraging across age groups, with strong associations between gulls and fishing vessels. By studying how age and life stage influence habitat use and behaviour, this research provides insights to guide targeted management strategies for this species, This study is part of the projects BCNGulls, Aliats and Intramural CSIC Project “Opportunistic gulls as sentinel species to monitor urban marine ecosystems”. VMV was supported by a Juan de la Cierva fellowship from the Spanish Government (JDC2022-049638-I). This work acknowledges the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S). We acknowledge support of the publication fee by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI), Age: age group (juveniles, immatures or adults); Latitude: latitude coordinates in degrees; Longitude: longitude coordinates in degrees, Peer reviewed
 
DOI: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/371973
Digital.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
oai:digital.csic.es:10261/371973

HANDLE: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/371973
Digital.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
oai:digital.csic.es:10261/371973
 
Ver en: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/371973
Digital.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
oai:digital.csic.es:10261/371973

Digital.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
oai:digital.csic.es:10261/371973
Dataset. 2024

GPS DATABASE OF JUVENILE, IMMATURE AND ADULT TAGGED YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS INHABITING THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM OF BARCELONA (SPAIN) RELATED TO THE TITLE: “ONTOGENY OF FORAGING BEHAVIOUR IN AN OPPORTUNISTIC GULL INHABITING URBAN MARINE ECOSYSTEMS”

Digital.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
  • Navarro, Joan
  • Martín-Vélez, Víctor
  • Giménez, Joan
  • García, José A.
  • Cermeño, Pablo
  • Figuerola, Jordi
  • Aymí, Raül
  • Montalvo, Tomás
Urbanization affects ecosystems by reducing biodiversity and displacing species from native habitats. While some suffer, others, like urban wildlife, adapt through innovative feeding and behaviours that improve their fitness in human-altered settings. Despite research on wildlife in urban areas, the development of foraging behaviour in urban species is still understudied. Here, we examined the age-related differences in the foraging behaviour of yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) in Barcelona (Spain), a densely populated coastal urban ecosystem. Using biologging technologies and trophic markers, we compared the foraging strategies, habitat use, human interactions, and trophic niches of juvenile, immature, and adult yellow-legged gulls over three breeding seasons. The results showed age-related differences in spatial distribution and foraging behaviour in this opportunistic species. Juveniles and immatures mainly foraged in ports and at sea, while adults favoured urban habitats. These patterns likely stem from reproductive constraints in adults and lower foraging efficiency in younger birds. Adults’ primary use of urban habitats also explains their higher trophic niche. Furthermore, fishing activity significantly influenced yellow-legged gull foraging across age groups, with strong associations between gulls and fishing vessels. By studying how age and life stage influence habitat use and behaviour, this research provides insights to guide targeted management strategies for this species, This study is part of the projects BCNGulls, Aliats and Intramural CSIC Project “Opportunistic gulls as sentinel species to monitor urban marine ecosystems”. VMV was supported by a Juan de la Cierva fellowship from the Spanish Government (JDC2022-049638-I). This work acknowledges the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S). We acknowledge support of the publication fee by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI), Age: age group (juveniles, immatures or adults); Latitude: latitude coordinates in degrees; Longitude: longitude coordinates in degrees, Peer reviewed




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