Larus dominicanus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	CHARADRIIFORMES	LARIDAE

Scientific Name:

Larus dominicanus

Species Authority:

Lichtenstein, 1823

Common Name/s:

English	–	Kelp Gull, Southern Black-backed Gull
French	–	Goéland dominicain

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor/s:

Justification:
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

History:

2009	–	Least Concern
2008	–	Least Concern
2004	–	Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	The Kelp Gull breeds on coasts and islands through much of the southern hemisphere. It is found on a number of subantarctic islands, on the Antarctic peninsula, on the southern coast of Australia and all of New Zealand, on the southern cost of Africa and Madagascar, and on the coast of South America as far north as Ecuador and southern Brazil¹.
Countries:	Native: Angola (Angola); Antarctica; Argentina; Australia; Barbados; Bouvet Island; Brazil; Chile; Ecuador; Falkland Islands (Malvinas); French Southern Territories (the); Gabon; Heard Island and McDonald Islands; Madagascar; Mexico; Mozambique; Namibia; New Zealand; Peru; Senegal; South Africa; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Uruguay Vagrant: Mauritania; Panama; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; Seychelles; Trinidad and Tobago
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population is estimated to number 3,300,000-4,300,000 individuals.
Population Trend:	Increasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Behaviour Although this species is largely sedentary some southern populations migrate north after the breeding season (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The species breeds between late-September and January (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005) in colonies of up to several hundred pairs (occasionally nesting solitarily) (del Hoyo et al. 1996) and remains gregarious outside of the breeding season (Hockey et al. 2005). Habitat It inhabits sheltered coastal (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996) harbours, bays, inlets, estuaries, beaches and rocky shores (Higgins and Davies 1996), usually foraging within 10 km of the shore but also following fishing boats beyond the continental shelf (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996). It may forage and roost in near-coastal inland habitats including lagoons (Higgins and Davies 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), lakes, swampy basins, rivers, streams (Higgins and Davies 1996), reservoirs (del Hoyo et al. 1996), pastures (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996), cultivated land, tussock grassland, scrubland and cleared areas in pine plantations (Higgins and Davies 1996). It often also forages around abattoirs, fish- or seafood-factories and at sewage outfalls (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The species will form breeding colonies in a number of locations including headlands (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996), sea cliffs (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), rocky outcrops, stacks (Higgins and Davies 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), offshore islands (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), low sandy, pebbly or rocky beaches, spits or islands (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996) in estuaries and lagoons (Hockey et al. 2005), on reefs, peninsulas, mudflats, sandbanks (Higgins and Davies 1996) and occasionally on the roofs of coastal buildings or in salt and sewage works (Hockey et al. 2005). Locally (e.g. in New Zealand) it may also breed inland on flat rocky mountaintops near permanent water (Higgins and Davies 1996). Diet Its diet consists of molluscs (e.g. mussels, cuttlefish Sepia spp. and terrestrial snails), echinoderms (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), sponges (Hockey et al. 2005), arthropods (e.g. swarming termites, crabs, isopods, amphipods) (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), macrozooplankton (Hockey et al. 2005), fish, worms, reptiles (del Hoyo et al. 1996) (e.g. snakes) (Hockey et al. 2005), amphibians (del Hoyo et al. 1996) (e.g. frogs) (Hockey et al. 2005), small mammals (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), birds (del Hoyo et al. 1996) and berries (Hockey et al. 2005). The species also scavenges refuse, sewage and carrion (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005). Breeding site The nest is a bulky structure of dried plants or seaweed (del Hoyo et al. 1996) placed on bare rock, sand or mud substrates (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996) in well-vegetated sites (del Hoyo et al. 1996) (with grasses, sedge, rushes and other herbaceous plants) (Higgins and Davies 1996) at the base of bushes, trees, rocks (del Hoyo et al. 1996), walls (Hockey et al. 2005) or other vertical structures (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Breeding habitats include headlands (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996), sea cliffs (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), rocky outcrops, stacks (Higgins and Davies 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), offshore islands (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), reefs, peninsulas, mudflats, sandbanks (Higgins and Davies 1996), the roofs of coastal buildings, salt and sewage works, guano platforms, shipwrecks (Hockey et al. 2005) and above the high water mark on low sandy, pebbly or rocky beaches (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996), spits or islands (Higgins and Davies 1996) in estuaries and lagoons (Hockey et al. 2005). Locally (e.g. in New Zealand) it may also breed inland on flat rocky mountaintops near permanent water (Higgins and Davies 1996). Management information Attaching high-visibility plastic cones to trawler warp cables can significantly reduce the mortality and bycatch of this species due to trawler fisheries (Gonzalez-Zevallos et al. 2007).
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Behaviour Although this species is largely sedentary some southern populations migrate north after the breeding season (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The species breeds between late-September and January (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005) in colonies of up to several hundred pairs (occasionally nesting solitarily) (del Hoyo et al. 1996) and remains gregarious outside of the breeding season (Hockey et al. 2005). Habitat It inhabits sheltered coastal (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996) harbours, bays, inlets, estuaries, beaches and rocky shores (Higgins and Davies 1996), usually foraging within 10 km of the shore but also following fishing boats beyond the continental shelf (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996). It may forage and roost in near-coastal inland habitats including lagoons (Higgins and Davies 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), lakes, swampy basins, rivers, streams (Higgins and Davies 1996), reservoirs (del Hoyo et al. 1996), pastures (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996), cultivated land, tussock grassland, scrubland and cleared areas in pine plantations (Higgins and Davies 1996). It often also forages around abattoirs, fish- or seafood-factories and at sewage outfalls (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The species will form breeding colonies in a number of locations including headlands (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996), sea cliffs (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), rocky outcrops, stacks (Higgins and Davies 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), offshore islands (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), low sandy, pebbly or rocky beaches, spits or islands (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996) in estuaries and lagoons (Hockey et al. 2005), on reefs, peninsulas, mudflats, sandbanks (Higgins and Davies 1996) and occasionally on the roofs of coastal buildings or in salt and sewage works (Hockey et al. 2005). Locally (e.g. in New Zealand) it may also breed inland on flat rocky mountaintops near permanent water (Higgins and Davies 1996). Diet Its diet consists of molluscs (e.g. mussels, cuttlefish Sepia spp. and terrestrial snails), echinoderms (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), sponges (Hockey et al. 2005), arthropods (e.g. swarming termites, crabs, isopods, amphipods) (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), macrozooplankton (Hockey et al. 2005), fish, worms, reptiles (del Hoyo et al. 1996) (e.g. snakes) (Hockey et al. 2005), amphibians (del Hoyo et al. 1996) (e.g. frogs) (Hockey et al. 2005), small mammals (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), birds (del Hoyo et al. 1996) and berries (Hockey et al. 2005). The species also scavenges refuse, sewage and carrion (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005). Breeding site The nest is a bulky structure of dried plants or seaweed (del Hoyo et al. 1996) placed on bare rock, sand or mud substrates (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996) in well-vegetated sites (del Hoyo et al. 1996) (with grasses, sedge, rushes and other herbaceous plants) (Higgins and Davies 1996) at the base of bushes, trees, rocks (del Hoyo et al. 1996), walls (Hockey et al. 2005) or other vertical structures (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Breeding habitats include headlands (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996), sea cliffs (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), rocky outcrops, stacks (Higgins and Davies 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), offshore islands (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Hockey et al. 2005), reefs, peninsulas, mudflats, sandbanks (Higgins and Davies 1996), the roofs of coastal buildings, salt and sewage works, guano platforms, shipwrecks (Hockey et al. 2005) and above the high water mark on low sandy, pebbly or rocky beaches (Higgins and Davies 1996, del Hoyo et al. 1996), spits or islands (Higgins and Davies 1996) in estuaries and lagoons (Hockey et al. 2005). Locally (e.g. in New Zealand) it may also breed inland on flat rocky mountaintops near permanent water (Higgins and Davies 1996). Management information Attaching high-visibility plastic cones to trawler warp cables can significantly reduce the mortality and bycatch of this species due to trawler fisheries (Gonzalez-Zevallos et al. 2007).

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The species is potentially threatened by future marine oil spills (Parsons and Underhill 2005), and is susceptible to avian cholera (Hockey et al. 2005, Leotta et al. 2006) and avian botulism (Blaker 1967, Hockey et al. 2005) so may be threatened by future outbreaks of these diseases. The species also suffers mortality from interactions with trawler warp cables (Argentina) (Gonzalez-Zevallos et al. 2007).

Major Threat(s):

The species is potentially threatened by future marine oil spills (Parsons and Underhill 2005), and is susceptible to avian cholera (Hockey et al. 2005, Leotta et al. 2006) and avian botulism (Blaker 1967, Hockey et al. 2005) so may be threatened by future outbreaks of these diseases. The species also suffers mortality from interactions with trawler warp cables (Argentina) (Gonzalez-Zevallos et al. 2007).

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Larus dominicanus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2013.
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