Reduced breeding success in great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) due to harness-mounted GPS device

Lopez, Samuel Langlois; Clewley, Gary D.; Johnston, Daniel T.; Daunt, Francis ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4638-3388; Wilson, Jared M.; O'Hanlon, Nina J.; Masden, Elizabeth. 2024 Reduced breeding success in great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) due to harness-mounted GPS device. Ibis, 166 (1). 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13247

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13247

Abstract/Summary

Animal-borne bio-logging devices are routinely fitted to seabirds to learn about their behaviour and physiology, as well as their interactions with the marine environment. The assessment and reporting of deleterious impacts from such devices on the individuals carrying them is critical to inform future work and improve data quality and animal welfare. We assessed the impacts of thoracic-harness attachments on the breeding performance and inter-annual return rates of Great Black-backed Gulls. We found that tagged individuals hatched fewer eggs per nest (0.67) than two different control groups (handled but not tagged – 2.0, and not handled – 1.9) and had lower hatching success rates per nest (27% compared with 81% and 82% in control groups). Inter-annual return rates were similar between tagged and control groups, but the harness attachment potentially caused the death of an individual 5 days after deployment. Overall, the harness attachment was a lead driver of nest failure. We urge extreme caution for those wanting to use harness-mounted devices on Great Black-backed Gulls.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13247
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0019-1019
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	animal welfare, device effects, seabird thoracic harness, seabird tracking
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	31 Oct 2023 14:36 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/535151

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13247

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0019-1019

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

animal welfare, device effects, seabird thoracic harness, seabird tracking