Neophobia and dominance-subordination interactions in the Olrog’s Gulls (Larus atlanticus)

Many animals show aversion to novel situations, a response termed neophobia. This behavior can be affected by agonistic interactions during social foraging. The aim of this study was to analyze the behavioral response to novel objects in the Olrog’s Gulls and to quantify the dominance-subordination interactions during social foraging. This study was carried out during the months of July-August 2016 at Mar Chiquita Reserve (37° 46’S, 57° 27’W). The recording of interactions and the neophobia level was performed in baiting stations, using as novel object different models of road cones. During the experiments (n=20), 91 interactions were recorded, of which only eight percent occurred in the presence of the novel object. More than 80% of interactions were initiated by juveniles (11.8% adults and 5.4% sub-adults). The probability of an individual entering the baiting station in presence of a novel object was affected by object type and by the number of adult individuals during the experiment. The probability of ingestion was affected by the factors previously mentioned, as well by the age class of the individual. No habituation to the object was observed after repeated presentations to the individuals. The information generated in this study contributes to the understanding of risk-taking behavior in novel situations and social feeding of a threatened seabird. This represents a key information to promote its conservation in environments that are constantly changing, such as the coast of the Province of Buenos Aires.