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Migratory gulls as key vectors for dispersal of propagules, nutrients and contaminants in Andalusia

Seminar

Migratory gulls as key vectors for dispersal of propagules, nutrients and contaminants in Andalusia

Date
30/11/2017
Venue
CABIMER, 13:30
Ponentes
Víctor Martín
Estación Biológica de Doñana

Migratory waterbirds act as dispersal vectors for a broad variety of organisms that have no or limited means of active dispersal such as plants and invertebrates. In Andalucia, the wintering population of the Lesser Black-Backed gulls (Larus fuscus) has increased greatly over the past 20 years. Larus fuscus individuals move regularly between and within different wetlands and they may play a key role in the dynamics aquatic metacommunites and wetlands across Andalusia by co-dispersing certain species. During the first half of the winter I will quantify and model the co-dispersal effect of gulls in ricefields, giving importance to dispersed weeds that may have an economic impact to the ricefields. The second winter half, I will study and model the co-dispersal connectivity of those gulls between wetlands all around Andalusia focusing in alien species that may be passively transported. I will also focus more in detail in Fuente de Piedra lagoon as an important roosting place of gulls in Andalusia. I will study the behavior of gulls meanwhile they remain in the lagoon and surrondings, and thus, quantify the external nutrient and contamintants transported by gulls.