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The Glaucous-Winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) as an Indicator of Chemical Contaminants in the Canadian Pacific Marine Environment: Evidence from Stable Isotopes

  • Special Issue: Indicators of Ocean Pollution
  • Published:
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Abstract

The Glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens) has been selected by Environment Canada as a marine indicator species for long-term monitoring of persistent contaminants in the Canadian Pacific. However, the indicator value of this species depends on its trophic level and proportion of marine prey in its diet. Eggs, used as the monitoring medium, are produced entirely from maternal resources and knowledge of adult diet before and during egg production is critical to interpreting contaminant levels. Due to a lack of recent and reliable dietary ecology work, we examined the diet of breeding Glaucous-winged gulls through carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope analysis at three colonies on the Pacific coast. Near-shore marine prey, occupying a high trophic level (δ15N), composed a predominant component of all Glaucous-winged gull diet. Adult diet composition from colonies in the Salish Sea was more varied than the west coast of Vancouver Island, reflecting the opportunistic foraging nature of this species in areas where the abundance of marine prey is known to fluctuate. Compared with incubating adults, pre-laying adults had a significantly lower trophic level that may reflect the need to consume marine invertebrates to acquire specific nutrients necessary for egg production. Interannual variation in both trophic level and prey source (δ13C) in egg and chick tissues indicates the need to pair ongoing contaminant monitoring with stable isotope analysis. The predominantly marine diet and relatively high trophic level of this gull supports its use as an indicator of marine pollution on the Pacific coast.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Chemical Management Plan of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and contributions from the Science and Technology Branch of ECCC, and the Centre for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University. The authors thank the many people involved in the egg collection, particularly Sandi Lee, other logistical support, and valuable input on seabird isotope ecology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Wildlife Ecology, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada

    M. L. Davis, J. E. Elliott & T. D. Williams

  2. Hemmera, 4730 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, V5H OC6, Canada

    M. L. Davis

  3. Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Environment Canada, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada

    J. E. Elliott

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  1. M. L. Davis
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  2. J. E. Elliott
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Correspondence to J. E. Elliott.

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Davis, M.L., Elliott, J.E. & Williams, T.D. The Glaucous-Winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) as an Indicator of Chemical Contaminants in the Canadian Pacific Marine Environment: Evidence from Stable Isotopes. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 73, 247–255 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-017-0368-y

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