Breeding Yellow‐legged Gulls increase consumption of terrestrial prey after landfill closure

• DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12701
• Publication Date: 2018-12-13T21:59:38Z
• Authors: Nere Zorrozua; Asier Aldalur; Alfredo Herrero; Beñat Diaz; Sergio Delgado; Carola Sanpera; Lluís Jover; Juan Arizaga
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 14. Life underwater; 15. Life on land; 01 natural sciences

The ecology of opportunistic foragers can be highly dependent on anthropogenic food sources, such as landfills, resulting in changes several ecological and demographic aspects. total closure landfill sites the use deterrence systems to prevent access remaining open a region northern Iberian Peninsula provided an excellent opportunity evaluate consequences landfills trophic forager, Yellow‐legged Gull Larus michahellis , using these resources. Based stable isotope analyses, we used mixing models estimate diet before after majority breeding non‐breeding season. We found decrease consumption from their closure, which was accompanied by increase feeding terrestrial prey (mostly earthworms), but only Interestingly, observed no marine closures. In winter there consumption, whereas and, despite reduce availability, resources increased. Thus, unlike when all were open, detected significant differences between seasons. Additionally, among colonies that quite close each other, not adults chicks. conclusion, or had direct impact Gulls; loss refuse mainly compensated for origin breeding, winter. this species may experience foraging constraints with potential effects other life‐history aspects including dispersal, survival needs further evaluation.