Kelp gulls Larus dominicanus breeding on the argentine coast: population status and relationship with coastal management and conservation

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

Marine Ornithology

African Seabird Group

Lugar: Ciudad del Cabo; Año: 1998 vol. 26 p. 11 - 18

1018-3337

The breeding distribution of the Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus in coastal Argentina ranged along over 3600 km of coastline, from Claromecó, southern Buenos Aires (38º45´S, 59°28´W) to Bahía Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego (54°51´S, 68°16´W). A total of 105 breeding colonies was identified at 55 localities. Median colony size 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 Gull colonies was located within coastal protected areas, representing over 60% of total population size. All Kelp Gull colonies for which we had size estimations for more than one season or for which previous information was available (n = 7) showed an increase in numbers of breeding pairs. Available information suggest that Kelp Gulls are feeding generalists taking advantage of artificial food sources resulting from human activities such as refuse tips, sewage outfalls, slaughter houses, and fisheries bycatch. As a result of their concentration close to cities, Kelp Gulls may result in hazards to aircraft and threats to human health. The opportunistic feeding habits and flexibility in nesting requirements of the Kelp Gull make this widely distributed and abundant species a probable key factor in the structuring of seabird assemblages and a problem to other coastal wildlife if populations continue to increase. Similarly, threats to human populations are likely to increase under current Kelp Gull population trends. Management and research requirements are presented.