Navigating the unknown: how exploratory traits shape juvenile post-fledging behaviour and survival in gulls

Area of Science:

• Animal behavior
• Ecology
• Ornithology

Background:

• The post-fledging period is crucial for young birds to develop foraging skills and spatial knowledge.
• Early-life exploratory behavior may influence survival and resource acquisition in inexperienced birds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if early-life exploratory phenotype predicts post-fledging behavior and survival in lesser black-backed gulls.
• To understand the ecological consequences of early behavioral variation.

Main Methods:

• Assessed nestling exploratory phenotype using an open field test (OFT).
• Utilized GPS tracking data from 34 juvenile gulls for 20 days to quantify habitat use and spatial behavior.
• Monitored survival for six months post-fledging, including migration.

Main Results:

• Early-life exploratory phenotype predicted habitat use: exploratory individuals favored urban areas, while less exploratory ones used agricultural areas.
• Exploratory phenotype did not significantly predict spatial use (e.g., mean squared displacement, revisitation patterns).
• No significant link was found between early exploratory phenotype and post-fledging survival.

Conclusions:

• Behavioral variation established early in life can have lasting effects on habitat selection.
• The lack of correlation between exploratory phenotype and survival may be due to factors like phenotype-habitat matching or limitations of the OFT.
• Further research is needed to identify behavioral traits crucial for survival in juvenile birds.