Dominance and dispersal between feeding sites in the herring gull (Larus argentatus)

Animal BehaviourPublished 1 May 1980

Pat Monaghan

DOI10.1016/s0003-3472(80)80060-1

Source URL

Citations116

SJR quartileQ1

SJR score0.81

SNIP0.91

TL;DR

Competition between adults and immatures, and a tendency for adult males to be the most dominant, brings about the dispersal between feeding sites of the adult females and the immatures.

Abstract

The feeding behaviour and movements of individually marked herring gulls at refuse tips were observed during the winters of 1973–1976. Refuse tips were used more by adult than by immature gulls. Adult female and immature gulls were more transient than adult males, changed their feeding sites more often, and used the secondary rather than the main feeding area of a tip more than the adult males. Individuals feeding in the main area fed at a higher rate and were involved in more aggressive encounters than those in the secondary area. Competition between adults and immatures, and a tendency for adult males to be the most dominant, brings about the dispersal between feeding sites of the adult females and the immatures.

Keywords

Environmental Science

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