Abstract
The diet of Mediterranean Gull chicks was investigated in a Macedonian wetland using three different sampling methods: stomachs from freshly dead chicks (1988), regurgitations (1987) and carcass stomachs (1986–88). In fresh stomachs, gastropods were the most important animal prey by mass and insects by numbers. In terms of overall volume and biomass, wheat grains were the most important food. In regurgitations and carcass stomachs insects were the most important prey. Comparison of the results from the different methods revealed considerable differences which are attributed to feeding behaviour of the gulls and prey dynamics rather than the methodology used. The importance of prey types is discussed; composition of diet probably differs considerably between geographical areas
Zusammenfassung
In einem Feuchtgebiet Mazedoniens wurde die Nahrung junger Schwarzkopfmöwen nach drei verschiedenen Methoden untersucht: Magenanalysen frischtoter Küken (1988), ausgewürgte Nahrungsbestandteile (1987) and Mageninhalte toter Jungvögel (1986–88). In frischen Mageninhalten machten der Masse nach Gastropoden, der Zahl nach Insekten die wichtigsten Nahrungsanteile aus. In allen Proben bildeten in Volumen und Biomasse Weizenkörner die wichtigste Nahrung, in ausgewürgten Proben und Mageninhalten toter Vögel Insekten. Der Vergleich der nach unterschiedlichen Methoden gewonnenen Ergebnisse ergab bemerkenswerte Unterschiede der Zahlenververhältnisse, doch nur gelegentliche Unterschiede in den Anteilen der wichtigsten Nahrungsbestandteile. Solche Unterschiede sind hauptsächlich auf das Verhalten der Möwen bei der Nahrunungssuche und auf die Dynamik des Beuteangebots zurückzuführen, weniger auf die Methodik der Probengewinnung. Erhebliche geographische Unterschiede in der Ernährung der Küken scheinen zu bestehen.
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Goutner, V. The diet of Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) chicks at fledging. J Ornithol 135, 193–201 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640288
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640288