P-48 Egg Cannibalism in Gulls: If the First-laid Egg in a Nest Has Been Cannibalized, Is the Second-laid Egg Likely To Be Cannibalized?
Supervising Professor: Shandelle M. Henson
Abstract
Cannibalism is the greatest source of egg loss in a large Glaucous-winged Gull colony on Protection Island, Washington. Previous work showed that the first egg laid in the nest was more likely to be cannibalized than the second or third egg. Here we show that for those nests in which the initial egg was cannibalized, the second egg was not at a significantly higher risk of being cannibalized. We hypothesize that after the first egg is laid, parental care increases, preventing the second and third egg in the nest from being as vulnerable to cannibalism.
P-48 Egg Cannibalism in Gulls: If the First-laid Egg in a Nest Has Been Cannibalized, Is the Second-laid Egg Likely To Be Cannibalized?
Buller Hall Lobby
Cannibalism is the greatest source of egg loss in a large Glaucous-winged Gull colony on Protection Island, Washington. Previous work showed that the first egg laid in the nest was more likely to be cannibalized than the second or third egg. Here we show that for those nests in which the initial egg was cannibalized, the second egg was not at a significantly higher risk of being cannibalized. We hypothesize that after the first egg is laid, parental care increases, preventing the second and third egg in the nest from being as vulnerable to cannibalism.