Ecological and evolutionary drivers of foraging specialisation in lesser black-backed gulls – from causes to consequences

Animal populations often consist of foraging specialists and generalists, and this individual variation is increasingly recognized as a driving force behind eco-evolutionary dynamics. Foraging specialization is crucial for understanding population dynamics. However, neither the sources of individual variation in foraging strategies nor the fitness consequences thereof, are fully understood. The aim of this project is to investigate the ontogeny of consistent foraging strategies, i.e. when and how underlying behavioral and structural differences develop. Early life conditions can be crucial, as it is assumed that the environmental effects that occur during this period have long-term effects. Next, I will assess how intrinsic factors, such as competitiveness or consistent variation in other behavioural traits, determine how animals forage. Finally, I will assess whether foraging specialization has an impact on reproductive success, and how this depends on the environmental conditions. Since these objectives require a study of multiple life history stages, I will combine sophisticated early life experiments with GPS tracking during the juvenile and adult phases in a seabird (Lesser Black-headed Gull) that shows strong variation in foraging specialization. This project will significantly advance our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary implications of individual variation in foraging strategies, and how that makes individuals predisposed to environmental changes.

Keywords:ANIMAL ECOLOGY, ONTOGENY, ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES

Disciplines:Animal ecology, Behavioural ecology, Biology of adaptation, Biology of behaviour

Project type:Collaboration project