Volume 48, No. 1
Volumes > 38 (2010-->)
- Volume 52, No. 2, 2024
- Volume 52, No. 1, 2024
- Volume 51, No. 2, 2023
- Volume 51, No. 1, 2023
- Volume 50, No. 2, 2022
- Volume 50, No. 1, 2022
- Volume 49, No. 2, 2021
- Volume 49, No. 1, 2021
- Volume 48, No. 2, 2020
- Volume 48, No. 1, 2020
- Volume 47, No. 2, 2019
- Volume 47, No. 1, 2019
- Volume 46, No. 2, 2018
- Volume 46, No. 1, 2018
- Volume 45, No. 2, 2017
- Volume 45, No. 1, 2017
- Volume 44, No. 2, 2016
- Volume 44, No. 1, 2016
- Volume 43, No. 2, 2015
- Volume 43, No. 1, 2015
- Volume 42, No. 2, 2014
- Volume 42, No. 1, 2014
- Volume 41, No. 2, 2013
- Volume 41, No. 1, 2013
- Volume 41, Special Issue, 2013
- Volume 40, No. 2, 2012
- Volume 40, No. 1, 2012
- Volume 39, No. 2, 2011
- Volume 39, No. 1, 2011
- Volume 38, No. 2, 2010
- Volume 38, No. 1, 2010
Volumes 28-37 (2000-09)
- Volume 37, No. 3, 2009
- Volume 37, No. 2, 2009
- Volume 37, No. 1, 2009
- Volume 36, No. 2, 2008
- Volume 36, No. 1, 2008
- Volume 35, No. 2, 2007
- Volume 35, No. 1, 2007
- Volume 34, No. 2, 2006
- Volume 34, No. 1, 2006
- Volume 33, No. 2, 2005
- Volume 33, No. 1, 2005
- Volume 32, No. 2, 2004
- Volume 32, No. 1, 2004
- Volume 31, No. 2, 2003
- Volume 31, No. 1, 2003
- Volume 30, No. 2, 2002
- Volume 30, No. 1, 2002
- Volume 29, No. 2, 2001
- Volume 29, No. 1, 2001
- Volume 28, No. 2, 2000
- Volume 28, No. 1, 2000
Volumes 18-27 (1990-99)
- Volume 27, No. 1 & 2, 1999
- Volume 26, No. 1 & 2, 1998
- Volume 24, No. 1 & 2, 1996
- Volume 25, No. 1 & 2, 1997
- Volume 23, No. 2, 1995
- Volume 23, No. 1, 1995
- Volume 22, No. 2, 1994
- Volume 22, No. 1, 1994
- Volume 21, No. 1 & 2, 1993
- Volume 20, No. 1 & 2, 1992
- Volume 19, No. 1, 1991
- Volume 18, No. 1 & 2, 1990
Volumes 5-17 (1978-89) a.k.a 'Cormorant'
- Volume 17, No. 1 & 2, 1989
- Volume 16, No. 1, 1988
- Volume 16, No. 2, 1988
- Volume 15, No. 1 & 2, 1987
- Volume 14, No. 1 & 2, 1987
- Volume 13, No. 2, 1986
- Volume 13, No. 1, 1986
- Volume 12, No. 2, 1985
- Volume 12, No. 1, 1985
- Volume 11, No. 1 & 2, 1984
- Volume 10, No. 2, 1983
- Volume 10, No. 1, 1983
- Volume 9, No. 2, 1982
- Volume 9, No. 1, 1982
- Volume 8, No. 2, 1981
- Volume 8, No. 1, 1981
- Volume 7, 1980
- Volume 5, 1978
Search by author or title:
Nocturnal copulation in Glaucous-winged Gulls Larus glaucescens
Citation
HAYES, F.E. & HAYWARD, J.L. 2020. Nocturnal copulation in Glaucous-winged Gulls Larus glaucescens.
Marine Ornithology 48: 55
- 59
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.48.1.1347
Received 30 August 2019, accepted 21 November 2019
Date Published: 2020/04/15
Date Online: 2019/03/05
Key words: behavior, cathemeral, Laridae, life history, mating, nocturnality, reproduction
Abstract
Gulls (Laridae) are primarily diurnal, although many species forage opportunistically at night, and several species copulate at night. We used trail cameras to study time-of-day variation in the rate of copulation by Glaucous-winged Gulls Larus glaucescens in a breeding colony (1500+ pairs) at Protection Island, Washington, USA, from 31 May to 07 June 2018. Copulations (n = 353) occurred at a significantly higher rate during the day (0.82/camera-h) than at night (0.51/camera-h), with 76.3 % of copulations during the day and 23.7 % at night (daylight comprised 66.1 % and darkness comprised 33.9 % of the study period). The copulation rate peaked shortly before and after dawn, with a second peak before sunset. Copulation rate was lowest during the middle of the day and middle of the night. Glaucous-winged Gulls sleep intermittently during both day and night and have sufficient energy to sustain sporadic copulations during the night, which appears to be a normal part of their reproductive behavior. The most likely advantage of this pattern is an increased opportunity for fertilization with a mate.
References
ALLISON, N.L. & DESTEFANO, S. 2006. Equipment and techniques for nocturnal wildlife studies. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34: 1036-1044.
ANONYMOUS. 2013. Statistix 10 User's Manual. Tallahassee, USA: Analytical Software.
ATKINS, G.J., REICHERT, A.A., HENSON, S.M. & HAYWARD, J.L. 2017. Copulation call coordinates timing of head-tossing and mounting behaviors in neighboring Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens). Wilson Journal of Ornithology 129: 560-567.
BARROWS, E.M. 2011. Animal Behavior Desk Reference: A Dictionary of Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press.
BELL, D.A. 1996. Genetic differentiation, geographic variation and hybridization in gulls of the Larus glaucescens-occidentalis complex. The Condor 98: 527-546.
BROOKE, M.D.L. & PRINCE, P.A. 1991. Nocturnality in seabirds. Proceedings of the International Ornithological Congress 20: 1113-1121.
BURGER, J. & STAINE, K.J. 1993. Nocturnal behavior of gulls in coastal New Jersey. Estuaries 16: 809-814.
FETTEROLF, P.M. 1979. Nocturnal behaviour of Ring-billed Gulls during the early incubation period. Canadian Journal of Zoology 57: 1190-1195.
FOOTTIT, R.G. & BUTLER, R.W. 1977. Predation on nesting Glaucous-winged Gulls by river otter. Canadian Field-Naturalist 91: 189-190.
GALUSHA, J.G. & HAYWARD, J.L. 2002. Bald Eagle activity at a gull colony and seal rookery on Protection Island, Washington. Northwestern Naturalist 83: 23-25.
GARTHE, S. & HÜPPOP, O. 1996. Nocturnal scavenging by gulls in the southern North Sea. Colonial Waterbirds 19: 232-241.
HAILMAN, J.P. 1964. The Galápagos Swallow-tailed Gull is nocturnal. Wilson Bulletin 76: 347-354.
HAYES, F.E., TURNER, D.G., ZIMMERLY, N.D. & PERALTA, M.B. 2018. Nocturnal courtship, copulation, and egg-laying in the western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's grebe (A. clarkii). Journal of Ethology 36: 65-75.
HAYWARD, J.L. JR., AMLANER, C.J. JR., GILLET, W.H. & STOUT, J.F. 1975. Predation on nesting gulls by a river otter in Washington State. Murrelet 6: 9-10.
HAYWARD, J.L., GALUSHA, J.G. & HENSON, S.M. 2010. Foraging-related activity of Bald Eagles at a Washington seabird colony and seal rookery. Journal of Raptor Research 44: 19-29.
HAYWARD, J.L., HENSON, S.M., BOVÉ, J., BOVÉ, C. & GREGORY, C.J. 2017. Daily and annual habitat use and habitat-to-habitat movement by Glaucous-winged Gulls at Protection Island, Washington. Northwestern Naturalist 98: 180-189.
HAYWARD, J.L. & VERBEEK, N.A. 2008. Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens). In: POOLE, A. (Ed.). Birds of North America Online. Ithaca, US: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. [Available online at: https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/glwgul. Accessed 06 June 2019]. doi.org/10.2173/bna.59.
HÉBERT, P.N. & MCNEIL, R. 1999. Nocturnal activity of Ring-billed Gulls at and away from the colony. Waterbirds 22: 445-451.
HENSON, S.M., DENNIS, B., HAYWARD, J.L., CUSHING, J.M. & GLUSHA, J.G. 2007. Predicting the dynamics of animal behaviour in field populations. Animal Behaviour 74: 103-110.
HENSON, S.M., DESHARNAIS, R.A., FUNASAKI, E.T., GALUSHA, J.G., WATSON, J.W. & HAYWARD, J.L. 2019. Predator-prey dynamics of Bald Eagles and Glaucous-winged Gulls at Protection Island, Washington, USA. Ecology and Evolution 9: 3850-3867.
HENSON, S.M., WELDON, L.M, HAYWARD, J.L., GREENE, D.J., MEGNA, L.C. & SEREM, M.C. 2012. Coping behavior as an adaptation to stress: post-disturbance preening in colonial seabirds. Journal of Biological Dynamics 6: 17-37.
HOWELL, T.R., ARAYA, B. & MILLIE, W.R. 1974. Breeding biology of the Gray Gull. University of California Publications in Zoology 104: 1-57.
JAMES-VEITCH, E. & BOOTH, E.S. 1954. Behavior and life history of the Glaucous-winged Gull. Walla Walla College Publications of the Department of Biological Sciences and the Biological Station 12: 1-30.
JOHNSON, M., BECKMANN, J.P. & ORING, L.W. 2002. Temperate breeding shorebirds copulate at night. Wader Study Group Bulletin 97: 45-46.
JOHNSON, M., BECKMANN, J.P. & ORING, L.W. 2003. Diurnal and nocturnal behavior of breeding American Avocets. Wilson Bulletin 115: 176-185.
LA, V.T. 2011. Diurnal and nocturnal birds vocalize at night: a review. The Condor 114: 245-257.
LEOPOLD, F., PHILIPPART, C.J.M. & YORIO, P. 2010. Nocturnal feeding under artificial light conditions by Brown-hooded Gull (Larus maculipennis) in Puerto Madryn harbour (Chubut Province, Argentina). El Hornero 25: 55-60.
MARTIN, G. 1990. Birds by Night. London, UK: Poyser.
MARTIN, K.L.M. & RAIM, J.G. 2014. Avian predators target nocturnal runs of the beach-spawning marine fish, California grunion, Leuresthes tenuis (Atherinopsidae). Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Science 113: 187-199.
MCALLISTER, N.M. 1958. Courtship, hostile behavior, nest-establishment and egg laying in the Eared Grebe (Podiceps caspicus). The Auk 75: 290-311.
MCNEIL, R., DRAPEAU, P. & GOSS-CUSTARD, J.D. 1992. The occurrence and adaptive significance of nocturnal habits in waterfowl. Biological Reviews 67: 381-419.
MCNEIL, R., DRAPEAU, P. & PIEROTTI, R. 1993. Nocturnality in colonial waterbirds: occurrence, special adaptations, and suspected benefits. In: POWER, D.M. (Ed.). Current Ornithology. Vol. 10. New York, USA:Plenum Press.
MCWILLIAMS, K.M., SANDLER, A.G., ATKINS, G.J., HENSON, S.M. & HAYWARD, J.L. 2018. Courtship and copulation in Glaucous-winged Gulls, Larus glaucescens, and the influence of environmental variables. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130: 270-285.
MEGNA, L.C., MONCRIEFF, A.E., HAYWARD, J.L. & HENSON, S.M. 2014. Equal reproductive success of phenotypes in the Larus glaucescens-occidentalis complex. Journal of Avian Biology 45: 410-416.
MONCRIEFF, A.E., MEGNA, L.C. & HAYWARD, J.L. 2013. Mating patterns and breeding success in gulls of the Larus glaucescens-occidentalis complex, Protection Island, Washington, USA. Northwestern Naturalist 94: 67-75.
MOYNIHAN, M. 1955. Some aspects of reproductive behavior in the Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus ridibundus L.) and related species. Behaviour Supplement 4: 1-201.
MOYNIHAN, M. 1962. Hostile and sexual behavior patterns of South American and Pacific Laridae. Behaviour Supplement 8: 1-365.
NELSON, D.A. 1989. Gull predation on Cassin's Auklet varies with the lunar cycle. The Auk 106: 495-497.
NEWTON, I. 2008. The Migration Ecology of Birds. London, UK: Academic Press.
NOCERA, J. & KRESS, S.W. 1996. Nocturnal predation on Common Terns by Great Black-backed Gulls. Colonial Waterbirds 19: 277-279.
ORO, J.D., RUIZ, X., JOVER, L., PEDROCCHI, V. & GONZÁLEZ-SOLÍS, J. 1997. Diet and adult time budgets of Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii in response to changes in commercial fisheries. Ibis 139: 631-637.
PUGH, A.R. & PAWSON, S.M. 2016. Artificial light at night potentially alters feeding behaviour of the native Southern Black-backed Gull (Larus dominicanus). Notornis 63: 37-39.
SALZER, D.W. & LARKIN, G.J. 1990. Impact of courtship feeding on clutch and third-egg size in Glaucous-winged Gulls. Animal Behaviour 39: 1149-1162.
SANDLER, A.G. 2013. Features of Copulation and the Copulation Call in Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens). MSc thesis. Berrien Springs, USA: Andrews University.
SOUTHERN, L.K. & SOUTHERN, W.E. 1979. Absence of nocturnal predator defense mechanisms in breeding gulls. Proceedings of the Colonial Waterbird Group 2: 157-162.
SOUTHERN, L.K., PATTON, S.R. & SOUTHERN, W.E. 1982. Nocturnal predation on Larus gulls. Colonial Waterbirds 5: 169-172.
TINBERGEN, N. 1959. Comparative studies of the behaviour of gulls (Laridae): a progress report. Behaviour 15: 1-70.
TINBERGEN, N. 1960. The Herring Gull's World: A Study of the Social Behavior of Birds. New York, USA: Harper & Row.
VERBEEK, A.M. & MORGAN, J.L. 1978. River otter predation on Glaucous-winged Gulls on Mandarte Island, British Columbia. Murrelet 59: 92-95.
VERMEER, K. 1963. The breeding ecology of the Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) on Mandarte Island, B.C. Occasional Papers of the British Columbia Provincial Museum 13: 1-104.
YORIO, P., SUÁREZ, N., QUINTANA, F. & GATTO, A. 2005. Nocturnal activity in breeding Olrog's Gulls (Larus atlanticus). Ornitología Neotropical 16: 123-126.
ZAR, J.H. 2010. Biostatistical Analysis, 5th Edition. Upper Saddle River, USA: Pearson.