Study of the winter distribution of the Mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus) in the Gulf of Sant Jordi, its main wintering area in the world.

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Main researcher: Albert Cama i Torell

Institution: Grup de Recerca Consolidat Biologia de Vertebrats (Universitat de Barcelona)

Description:
Knowledge of the distribution of organisms is a crucial aspect in being able to identify the problems affecting them and applying the necessary management and conservation measures. This fact is especially important in the marine environment due to the apparent homogeneity of the stretch of water. This study seeks to learn more about the winter population and distribution of the Mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus), which has its main wintering area on the Catalan coast, specifically in the Gulf of Sant Jordi, in Tarragona, where between 40% and 90% of the known world winter population is concentrated.

It is evident that the importance of the Gulf of Sant Jordi to the Mediterranean gull creates a global commitment and responsibility for the management of the species that calls for up-to-date and complete information, which is why this project is being carried out, the aims of which are:

• To establish the number and distribution of the Mediterranean gulls wintering in the Gulf of Sant Jordi.
• To analyse the phenology of the Mediterranean gull in the Gulf of Sant Jordi.
• To analyse the movements of Mediterranean gulls in the Gulf of Sant Jordi.
• To establish the worldwide importance of the Gulf of Sant Jordi for the Mediterranean gull for both wintering and migrant examples.
• To create tools for managing the habitats occupied by this species.

To do so, fortnightly censuses of Mediterranean gulls will be conducted in the four main roosting areas of the species in the Gulf of Sant Jordi:  port of Ampolla, port of Ametlla de Mar, port of Cambrils and Cap de Salou. These censuses will be conducted between 1 September 2011 and 31 April 2012.

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