CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

In this study, we used stable-isotope analysis to determine the importance of different food resources in the diet of an endemic gull species of the Atlantic coast of southern South America during the non-breeding period. We compared the isotopes 15 N and 13 C in the blood of Olrog?sGulls (Larus atlanticus) of different ages with those in potential prey of the Gulls. We also determined the abundance of Olrog?s Gull in their wintering areas and attending coastal ﬁsheries operations in a small region of Argentina. An isotope-mixing model showed differences in the isotopic signatures of adult, subadult and juvenile Gulls. Although the isotope-mixing model showed crabs as the main prey, it also showed that demersal and pelagic ﬁsh may be important in the diet. We speculate that the demersal and pelagic ﬁsh in the diet, shown by their isotopic signatures in the Gulls, may be taken in association with coastal ﬁsheries, particularly bottom otter-paired trawling. At-sea observations showed that Olrog?s Gulls were one of the most-common birds attending ﬁshing operations of the Argentine coastal ﬁshing ﬂeet, taking advantage of ﬁsh mostly made available through hauling operations.