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Male and female Black-tailed Gulls Larus crassirostris feed on the same prey species but use different feeding habitats

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Abstract

Sexual segregation in foraging habitats and associated diet differences have been reported in many seabirds. These sexual distinctions can be caused by differences in competitive ability or nutritional requirements. Here, we investigated the diets of male and female Black-tailed Gulls Larus crassirostris by collecting regurgitations during the incubation period and examining foraging behaviours and habitat use via tracking with Global Positioning System data loggers. In both males and females, the regurgitations predominantly contained Japanese Sand Lance Ammodytes personatus. Females were more likely than males to make long foraging trips. Males frequently foraged in fishing ports and fish processing plants; however, females rarely foraged in these locations. Males favoured nearshore areas (< 50 m sea depth), whereas females expanded their foraging range to deeper areas near the ocean frontal zone. The observed sexual segregation in foraging habitat use despite consumption of the same prey might be derived from competitive exclusion by males, which have a larger body size and stronger competitive abilities than females, rather than from different nutritional requirements.

Zusammenfassung

Männliche und weibliche Japanmöwen Larus crassirostris ernähren sich von den gleichen Beutetieren, suchen aber unterschiedliche Orte zur Nahrungssuche auf

Für viele Seevogelarten ist bekannt, dass sie ihre Nahrungshabitate nach Geschlechtern getrennt aufsuchen und dementsprechend unterschiedliche Nahrung zu sich nehmen. Diese Geschlechtsunterschiede könnten an Unterschieden in ihrer Konkurrenzfähigkeit oder ihren Nahrungsbedürfnissen liegen. Wir untersuchten die Nahrung männlicher und weiblicher Japanmöwen (Larus crassirostris), indem wir das während der Brutzeit Ausgewürgte sammelten, die Verhaltensweisen bei der Nahrungsaufnahme analysierten und das Aufsuchen der Nahrungshabitate per GPS Datenlogger auswerteten. Bei Männchen und Weibchen enthielt das Ausgewürgte überwiegend den kleinen Japanischen Sandaal (Ammodytes personatus). Die Weibchen waren eher als die Männchen bereit, zur Nahrungsaufnahme längere Strecken zurückzulegen. Die Männchen suchten ihre Nahrung regelmäßig in Fischerhäfen und bei Fischaufbereitungsanlagen; Weibchen waren dort nur selten zu sehen. Männchen bevorzugten küstennahe Gebiete (< 50 m Wassertiefe), wohingegen die Weibchen den Radius ihrer Nahrungsflüge auf Bereiche mit größerer Wassertiefe ausdehnten. Die von uns beobachtete geschlechtsspezifische Trennung der Nahrungshabitate trotz gleicher Beutetiere könnte eher an unterschiedlichen Nahrungsbedürfnissen als an einem kompetitiven Ausschluss der Männchen liegen, die größer und schwerer sind und stärker ausgeprägte Wettbewerbsfähigkeiten haben.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Kazuki Kosugi, Masahiko Sato, Rie Sato, Toru Nishijima, Kanako Nishijima, Kazuki Nishijima, and Shinya Okada for their support and assistance in the field. We are grateful to Franz Bairlein and two anonymous referees for their very helpful comments and suggestions that improved the manuscript. Hokkaido Soya sub-prefectural office gave us permission (no. 452-43 ~ 48) to work on the Black-tailed Gulls in the study areas on Rishiri Island. This study was supported by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (4-1603) of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Marine Ecology, Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 041-8611, Japan

    Kentaro Kazama, Bungo Nishizawa, Shota Tsukamoto, Mami T. Kazama & Yutaka Watanuki

  2. Institut de la Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio) and Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal, 645-08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi E. Gonzalez

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  1. Kentaro Kazama
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  2. Bungo Nishizawa
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  3. Shota Tsukamoto
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  4. Jordi E. Gonzalez
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  5. Mami T. Kazama
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  6. Yutaka Watanuki
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Correspondence to Kentaro Kazama.

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Communicated by C. Barbraud.

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Kazama, K., Nishizawa, B., Tsukamoto, S. et al. Male and female Black-tailed Gulls Larus crassirostris feed on the same prey species but use different feeding habitats. J Ornithol 159, 923–934 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-018-1565-9

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