Neophobia and dominance-subordination interactions in the Olrog's Gulls (Larus atlanticus)

CASTANO, MELINA; GARCÍA, GERMÁN OSCAR; ZUMPANO, FRANCISCO; NICOLLI, ANABELA; BIONDI, LAURA MARINA

Puerto Iguazu

Congreso; Ornithological Congress of the Americas; 2017

Aves Argentinas, Sociedade Brasileira de Ornitologia, Association of Field Ornithologist

Many animals show aversion to novel situations, a response termed neophobia. This behavior can be affected by agonistic interactions during the social foraging. The aim of this study was to analyze the behavioral response to novel objects in the Olrog?s Gulls and to quantify the dominance-subordination interactions during the social foraging. This study was carried out during the months of July-August 2016 at Mar Chiquita Reserve (37° 46´S, 57° 27´W). The recording of interactions and the neophobia level was performed in baiting stations, using as novel object different models of road cones. During the experiments (n=20), 91 interactions were recorded, of which only eight percent occurred in the presence of the novel object. More than 80% of interactions were initiated by juveniles (11.8% by adults and 5.4% by sub-adults). The probability of an individual entering the baiting station in presence of a novel object wasaffected by object type and by the number of adult individuals during the experiment. The probability of ingestion was affected by the factors previously mentioned, as well by the age class of the individual. No habituation to the object was observed after repeated presentations to the individuals. The information generated in this study contributes to the understanding of risk-takingbehaviorinnovelsituationsandsocialfeedingofa threatenedseabird.Thisrepresentsakeyinformationtopromoteitsconservationinenvironmentsthatareconstantlychanging,suchasthecoastoftheProvinceofBuenosAires.