GULLS AND TERNS (LARIDAE) OFF WOLLONGONG, NEW SOUTH WALES: SEASONAL ABUNDANCE, SCAVENGING BEHAVIOUR AND DEPTH ZONATION
| Posted: |
15/08/2021 |
| Author(s): |
K. A. Wood |
During 23 monthly pelagic cruises off Wollongong, Silver Gulls
Larus novaehollandiae comprised
about 90 per cent of 11 483 larids counted and were the most dominant scavengers. Gulls were mainly
inshore whereas terns were mostly offshore and pelagic. Five tern species were seen irregularly.
Crested Terns were consistently more pelagic than neritic while not breeding and consistently more
neritic than pelagic while breeding. Numbers of Silver Gulls increased markedly in winter (before
breeding) when zonal distribution changed to partly neritic, partly pelagic. At peak abundance in June
1985, their rates of encounter in pelagic and neritic zones were equal. It is suggested that the Silver
Gulls in the pelagic zone were mainly adults, scavenging for nutritious food before breeding.
>> Download Abstract |
File Size: 58KB
>> Download Complete PDF | File Size: 2MB
