As migratory species move across their annual ranges, they may face challenges that influence population dynamics. The Audouin’s Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) is a vulnerable migratory species that breeds in colonies across the Mediterranean, with an important fraction of its breeding population hosted in Catalonia. While its breeding distribution is well documented, less is known about its non-breeding distribution and its distribution beyond breeding colonies. By combining long-term mark-recapture data with citizen science observations, we explored the spatial distribution of marked individuals in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands between breeding and non-breeding periods, among age classes, and among natal colony groups. Our findings showed significant differences in distribution among all three factors. The distribution of intensively used areas differed between breeding periods. Younger age classes showed broader distributions than adults, suggesting age-dependent changes in space use. Natal colony group explained the highest proportion of spatial variation suggesting it plays an important role in shaping this species’ spatial distribution. These results provide important insights into the diverse drivers influencing a vulnerable seabird’s spatial distribution, highlighting the potential of citizen-science to contribute valuable information on species distribution beyond breeding colonies and across life stages, a crucial step for guiding effective conservation measures.
promotor/supervisor feedback
nothing yet
