Anthropogenic debris in Kelp Gull and other seabird nests in northern Patagonia, Argentina

• Published in: Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Main Authors: Yorio, Pablo Martin, Suarez, Nicolas Marcelo, Ibarra, Cynthia, Kasinsky Aguilera, Lorna Tatiana, Marinao, Cristian Javier, González, Paola, Canti, Santiago
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V.
• Subjects: MARINE DEBRIS; PLASTICS; KELP GULL; NEST MATERIAL; SEABIRDS; ARGENTINE PATAGONIA; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1; Patagonia; Argentina; Argentine; Pablo; Lorna; Suarez; Ibarra; Aguilera; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/203240

Anthropogenic debris is used as nesting material by many seabirds and may result in negative impacts. We assessed the frequency of occurrence of debris (>5 mm) in Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) nests at six locations along 2400 km of the Argentine coast, at different distances from urban centres, and in nests of other seven seabird species nesting syntopically. Frequencies in Kelp Gull nests were in general relatively low, ranging between 3.3 and 37.5%, and differed significantly among colonies. No relationship was found between frequency and distance to urban centres. Debris were recorded with frequencies of less than 19.2% in nests of Olrog's Gulls (L. atlanticus), Dolphin Gulls (L. scoresbii), Imperial Cormorants (Leucocarbo atriceps) and Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), but not in nests of Neotropical Cormorants (Nannopterum brasilianus), Rock Shags (Leucocarbo magellanicus) and Southern Skuas (Catharacta antarctica). This information obtained along a wide coastal sector provides a baseline for future monitoring. Fil: Yorio, Pablo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; Argentina. Wildlife Conservation Society; Estados Unidos Fil: Suarez, Nicolas Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; Argentina Fil: Ibarra, Cynthia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; Argentina Fil: Kasinsky Aguilera, Lorna Tatiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; Argentina Fil: Marinao, Cristian Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. ...