Kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) breeding on the argentine coast: population status and a review of its relationship with coastal management and conservation

YORIO, P.; BERTELLOTTI, M.; GANDINI, P.; FRERE, E.

Marine Ornithology

Pacific Seabird Group

Año: 1998 vol. 26 p. 11 - 18

1018-3337

The breeding distribution of the Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus in coastal Argentina ranged along over 3600km of coastline, from Claromecó, southern Buenos Aires (38º45´S, 59°28´W) to Bahía Ushuaia, Tierra delFuego (54°51´S, 68°16´W). A total of 105 breeding colonies was identified at 55 localities. Median colonysize was 184 pairs, ranging from two to 12 260 breeding pairs. Total population size for the Argentine coast,considering only the 94 colonies for which the number of breeding pairs is available (89% of total sites),was estimated as 74 360 breeding pairs. Most colonies were on islands (81.9%). A total of 40 Kelp Gullcolonies was located within coastal protected areas, representing over 60% of total population size. All KelpGull colonies for which we had size estimations for more than one season or for which previous informationwas available (n = 7) showed an increase in numbers of breeding pairs. Available information suggest thatKelp Gulls are feeding generalists taking advantage of artificial food sources resulting from human activitiessuch as refuse tips, sewage outfalls, slaughter houses, and fisheries bycatch. As a result of their concentrationclose to cities, Kelp Gulls may result in hazards to aircraft and threats to human health. The opportunisticfeeding habits and flexibility in nesting requirements of the Kelp Gull make this widely distributed andabundant species a probable key factor in the structuring of seabird assemblages and a problem to other coastalwildlife if populations continue to increase. Similarly, threats to human populations are likely to increaseunder current Kelp Gull population trends. Management and research requirements are presented.