Despite the reputation for being the trash pandas of the bird world Despite their reputation as the raccoons of the bird worldSeagulls are masters of evolution and can survive and thrive alongside humans Seagulls have remarkable memory and use pieces of food to bait fish, similar to how primates use tools. Seagulls with larger brains are also more likely to nest on coastal cliffs and may be better adapted to breed in urban environments., have a A study published on April 25 in the journal "Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution" found that more than half of cliff-nesting gull species that also nest in cities and towns have larger brains. This behavioral flexibility allows them to nest in challenging locations like rooftops. Species such as the Herring Gull, the Lesser Black-backed Gull, and the Black-legged Kittiwake are capable of this.Many people are familiar with gulls nesting and foraging in urban areas. It's unexpected from a seabird, so the researchers wanted to understand why they do it. The team searched through research databases to find records of urban breeding and foraging among gulls and data on brain size by species. They then mapped a range of the different species present. Out of 50 gull species, 13 were recorded as using urban areas to breed, while 13 were recorded using urban areas to forage for food. Nine species bred and fed in more building-heavy environments.
A When they compared the figures for breeding with the birds’ known habits and brain size, they found that 53 percent of cliff-nesting gull species also nested in urban areas. In contrast, only 11 percent of generally non-cliff-nesting species nested in both spaces. The researchers found that gull species with larger brains are more likely to be cliff-nesters and are more likely to breed in urban areas. In addition, they found that cliff-nesting is probably a relatively recent adaptation rather than something shared by the ancestor of gulls. Non-cliff-nesting gull species nest exclusively on the ground, while most traditionally cliff-nesting species can nest in both spaces.
Goumas, study co-author and a postdoctoral researcher specializing in herring gulls at the University of Exeter in England, mentioned that gulls hunger for food touched by human hands. Goumas made this statement as a study co-author and University of Exeter evolutionary biologist Neeltje Boogert also said that cliff-nesting is probably a relatively recent adaptation.The team also pointed out that this behavior is not fixed or instinctive in most gulls. Bigger brains enable gull species to be flexible in choosing where to nest, allowing them to use unconventional sites like buildings for raising their young.
In terms of foraging, the researchers found that neither brain size nor the shape of their wing were good indicators of seagull behavior in urban environments. The team also looked at the status of the gulls on the.]
In the studyThe Red List of the International Union on Conservation of Nature.
Gulls with stable or increasing populations were over twice as likely to be seen in urban habitats compared to species with decreasing populations. Out of the 10 Threatened or Near Threatened species, only the
Black-legged Kittiwake was known to use urban areas. It is important to study how gull species behave in populated areas with humans and buildings in order to conserve them.
This is important for conservation purposes..]
Understanding why some gull species are able to survive and thrive in urban areas while others struggle can provide valuable insights into their well-being. “Urbanization poses a significant challenge for many animals,” Goumas explained. “It seems that some gull species have found ways to overcome the obstacles that hinder other animals from utilizing urban areas, but we need more extensive and comparative studies on other species to fully grasp the effects of living in urban environments.”Herring Gulls, the Black-legged Kittiwake, and other species have mastered evolution.
They also point out that this is not a fixed or instinctive behavior in most gulls. The non-cliff-nesting gull species nest exclusively on the ground, most most traditionally cliff-nesting species can nest in both spaces.
“This suggests that bigger brains enable these gull species to be flexible with regard to where they choose to nest, and this allows them to use unconventional sites, like buildings, for raising their young,” said Goumas.
Piping plovers are in trouble, but there’s some good news.]
In terms of foraging, the researchers found that neither brain size nor the shape of their wing were good indicators of seagull behavior in urban environments. The team also looked at the status of the gulls on the International Union on Conservation of Nature’s Red List. The gulls with stable or increasing populations were more than twice as likely to be observed using urban habitats than the species that are decreasing. Of the 10 Threatened or Near Threatened species, only the Black-legged Kittiwake was known to use urban spaces.
Observing how gull species function in populated areas with humans and buildings is important for conservation. Seeing what factors allow some to survive and thrive while others do not can inform why some aren’t faring as well.
“Urbanization is a major problem for a lot of animals,” said Goumas. “It looks like some gull species have managed to overcome some of the challenges that prevent other animals from using urban areas, but we need more long-term studies as well as comparative studies on other taxa to fully understand the impacts of urban living.”
