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Audouin's GullsLarus audouinii associate with sub-surface predators in the Mediterranean Sea

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Abstract

Two observations of Audouin's Gull flocks foraging on small fish forced to rise to the sea surface by tunas are presented. Observations were made just off-shore in the Ebro Delta, and Audouin's Gulls and terns concentrated in these flocks more than other seabirds breeding there, probably due to their higher ability for catching fish actively. The association of Audouin's Gulls with sub-surface predators may be a supplementary foraging behaviour for the species, especially during periods of short food supply.

Zusammenfassung

Vor der Küste des Ebrodeltas wurden zweimal Korallenmöwen bei der Jagd auf kleine Fische beobachtet, die durch jagende Tunfische an die Oberfläche getrieben worden waren. Korallenmöwen und Seeschwalben waren in den beiden beobachteten Trupps häufiger vertreten als andere in der Nähe brütende Seevögel. Die Assoziation der Korallenmöwen mit submersen Prädatoren könnte besonders in Perioden knappen Nahrungsangebots ein zusätzliche erfolgversprechende Form des Nahrungserwerbs darstellen.

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Oro, D. Audouin's GullsLarus audouinii associate with sub-surface predators in the Mediterranean Sea. J Ornithol 136, 465–467 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01651595

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