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COLONY DESERTION AND REPRODUCTIVE SYNCHRONY OF BLACK‐BILLED GULLS LARUS BULLERI
Author(s) -
EVANS ROGER M.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1982.tb03793.x
Subject(s) - desertion , nest (protein structural motif) , biology , ecology , habitat , seasonal breeder , nesting (process) , zoology , reproductive success , geography , demography , population , archaeology , biochemistry , materials science , sociology , metallurgy
Summary Black‐billed Gulls breeding in large dense colonies on river beds in New Zealand were found to have a high rate of colony desertion early in the nesting cycle. The hypothesis is developed that individuals faced with possible desertion after they have begun to nest can reduce the likelihood of being deserted by delaying their nesting activities until a large number of others is also ready to nest. This interpretation is developed into a graphic model to show that colony desertion can thereby produce a strong selection pressure favouring highly synchronized nesting. This model successfully predicts onset synchrony, subcolony formation, occurrence of complete colony desertions mainly early in the season, occurrence of partial colony desertions, and the existence of nester non‐nester conflict over whether or not to desert. Unstable food appears to be the most likely cause of colony desertion in Black‐billed Gulls. Black‐billed Gulls are similar, in varying degrees to Sandwich, Royal and White‐fronted Terns. Convergent traits include tendencies to occupy colonies rapidly and synchronously, reduced site tenacity, and the use of open and often unstable nesting habitats. The links described here between desertion and synchrony may be relevant for some other species.