Gull Chick Survival: The Significance of Growth Rates, Timing of Breeding and Territory Size

In a 2—yr study of the survival of Glaucous—winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) chicks, pecking of trespassing chicks by neighboring adults was the major cause of chick mortality. In years of both low and high food availability chick survival was strongly correlated with growth rates. Chicks that grew slowly were more likely to be killed by neighbors than fast—growing chicks. In the year of low food availability, among slow—growing chicks, those hatched early in the season on large territories had better survival rates than chicks hatched late in the season on small territories. In the year of high food availability, timing of breeding and territory size had little bearing on chick survival. A model of chick survival in relation to timing of breeding predicts that when neighbor interference is the major cause of chick mortality, chicks hatched early in the season will have the highest probability of surviving. When predators are the major cause of chick mortality, chicks hatching in the middle of the breeding season will have highest survival. A second model relates chick survival to territory size. Chicks raised on large territories will most likely avoid neighbor interference, while predation will select for either small or large territory size, depending upon the effectiveness of group mobbing against the predator.