Changes in Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis (Naumann, 1840)) diet in urban area of Tigzirt (Kabylian southern shore of Mediterranean Sea), Algeria

Type Journal Article - Advances in Environmental Biology
Title Changes in Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis (Naumann, 1840)) diet in urban area of Tigzirt (Kabylian southern shore of Mediterranean Sea), Algeria
Author(s)
Volume 10
Issue 5
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2016
Page numbers 126-133
URL http://www.aensiweb.net/AENSIWEB/aeb/aeb/2016/May/126-132.pdf
Abstract
The Yellow-legged Gull’s diet (Larus michahellis) was studied by analyzing 170 pellets of adults collected on roofs of buildings and houses in Tigzirt city (urban area), from 2013 to 2015. The direct dietary analysis study has resulted in the identification of 65 food items. The dietary diversity of the Yellow-legged Gull in urban area was found to be richer in inorganic than organic items. The proportion of “other remains” in pellets of Yellow-legged Gull adults in Tigzirt is the largest during these three years of observation with 39.53%, 45.09% and 43.73% respectively, followed by the food category represented by meat remains (31.4% in 2013; 17.14% in 2015), and vegetation remains ranking last (10.65% in 2014). With regard to the foraging habitat and nesting urban pairs, it appears that Yellow-legged Gulls of Tigzirt city (southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea) seem to be significantly dependent on landfills.

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