Morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult Аzov Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans сachinnans
Gulls were trapped in the breeding colony on islands of Molochny Liman, a salt reservoir near the north Azov seashore (south of Zaporizhzhia Region, Ukraine). The total of measured cachinnans is 80 birds, more than 3500 nestlings were ringed. For trapped birds a total of 28 parameters were taken (14...
Збережено в:
| Дата: | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Автори: | , , , |
| Формат: | Стаття |
| Мова: | English |
| Опубліковано: |
Інститут зоології ім. І.І. Шмальгаузена НАН України
2001
|
| Назва видання: | Бранта: Cборник научных трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции |
| Теми: | |
| Онлайн доступ: | http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/81851 |
| Теги: |
Додати тег
Немає тегів, Будьте першим, хто поставить тег для цього запису!
|
| Назва журналу: | Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine |
| Цитувати: | Morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult Аzov Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans сachinnans / G. Neubauer, A.I. Koshelev, V.A. Koshelev, M. Zagalska // Бранта: Сборник научных трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции. — 2001. — Вип. 4. — С. 109-117. — Бібліогр.: 20 назв. — англ. |
Репозитарії
Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine| id |
irk-123456789-81851 |
|---|---|
| record_format |
dspace |
| spelling |
irk-123456789-818512015-05-22T03:02:06Z Morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult Аzov Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans сachinnans Neubauer, G. Koshelev, A.I. Koshelev, V.A. Zagalska, M. Морфология Gulls were trapped in the breeding colony on islands of Molochny Liman, a salt reservoir near the north Azov seashore (south of Zaporizhzhia Region, Ukraine). The total of measured cachinnans is 80 birds, more than 3500 nestlings were ringed. For trapped birds a total of 28 parameters were taken (14 metrical and 14 colour features). Blood samples were obtained from the most of the captured birds for further genetical analysis, and pictures were taken to record coloration (colour of eyes, legs, mantle, etc.). Исследования проводились в 2000-2001 гг. на юге Запорожской области, на о-вах Молочного лимана Азовского моря. Сетевыми ловушками типа «цилиндр» было отловлено, прижизненно обследовано и окольцовано 80 экз. взрослых чаек, окольцовано свыше 3500 подросших птенцов. Измерения проводились по 28 параметрам (14 метрических и 14 цветовых). Брались пробы крови из ножной вены для последующего генетического анализа, проведена цветная фотосъемка внешнего вида чаек (окраска глаз, ног, мантии и др.). Дослідження проводилися в 2000-2001 рр. на півдні Запорізької області, на о-вах Молочного лиману Азовського моря. Сітковими пастками типу «циліндр» було виловлено, прижиттєво обстежено та закільцьовано 80 екз. дорослих мартинів, закільцьовано понад 3500 підрослих пташенят. Виміри проводилися згідно з 28 параметрами (14 метричних і 14 колірних). Бралися проби крові з ножною вени для подальшого генетичного аналізу, проведена кольорова фотозйомка зовнішнього вигляду чайок (забарвлення очей, ніг, мантії та ін.). 2001 Article Morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult Аzov Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans сachinnans / G. Neubauer, A.I. Koshelev, V.A. Koshelev, M. Zagalska // Бранта: Сборник научных трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции. — 2001. — Вип. 4. — С. 109-117. — Бібліогр.: 20 назв. — англ. 1994-1722 http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/81851 598.333.2+591.543.43 en Бранта: Cборник научных трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции Інститут зоології ім. І.І. Шмальгаузена НАН України |
| institution |
Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine |
| collection |
DSpace DC |
| language |
English |
| topic |
Морфология Морфология |
| spellingShingle |
Морфология Морфология Neubauer, G. Koshelev, A.I. Koshelev, V.A. Zagalska, M. Morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult Аzov Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans сachinnans Бранта: Cборник научных трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции |
| description |
Gulls were trapped in the breeding colony on islands of Molochny Liman, a salt reservoir near the north Azov seashore (south of Zaporizhzhia Region, Ukraine). The total of measured cachinnans is 80 birds, more than 3500 nestlings were ringed. For trapped birds a total of 28 parameters were taken (14 metrical and 14 colour features). Blood samples were obtained from the most of the captured birds for further genetical analysis, and pictures were taken to record coloration (colour of eyes, legs, mantle, etc.). |
| format |
Article |
| author |
Neubauer, G. Koshelev, A.I. Koshelev, V.A. Zagalska, M. |
| author_facet |
Neubauer, G. Koshelev, A.I. Koshelev, V.A. Zagalska, M. |
| author_sort |
Neubauer, G. |
| title |
Morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult Аzov Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans сachinnans |
| title_short |
Morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult Аzov Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans сachinnans |
| title_full |
Morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult Аzov Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans сachinnans |
| title_fullStr |
Morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult Аzov Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans сachinnans |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult Аzov Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans сachinnans |
| title_sort |
morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult аzov yellow-legged gull larus cachinnans сachinnans |
| publisher |
Інститут зоології ім. І.І. Шмальгаузена НАН України |
| publishDate |
2001 |
| topic_facet |
Морфология |
| url |
http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/81851 |
| citation_txt |
Morphological variation and sex dimorphism in adult Аzov Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans сachinnans / G. Neubauer, A.I. Koshelev, V.A. Koshelev, M. Zagalska // Бранта: Сборник научных трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции. — 2001. — Вип. 4. — С. 109-117. — Бібліогр.: 20 назв. — англ. |
| series |
Бранта: Cборник научных трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT neubauerg morphologicalvariationandsexdimorphisminadultazovyellowleggedgulllaruscachinnanssachinnans AT koshelevai morphologicalvariationandsexdimorphisminadultazovyellowleggedgulllaruscachinnanssachinnans AT koshelevva morphologicalvariationandsexdimorphisminadultazovyellowleggedgulllaruscachinnanssachinnans AT zagalskam morphologicalvariationandsexdimorphisminadultazovyellowleggedgulllaruscachinnanssachinnans |
| first_indexed |
2025-07-06T07:27:16Z |
| last_indexed |
2025-07-06T07:27:16Z |
| _version_ |
1836881642247946240 |
| fulltext |
Бранта: сборник трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции ^
Вып. 4. 2001. - Морфология.
УДК 598.333.2+591.543.43
M O R PH O L O G IC A L VA RIA TIO N A N D SE X D IM O R P H IS M IN AD ULT AZO V
Y E L LO W -LEG G ED G ULL L AR U S CACH1NNANS С A CH IN N A N S
Neubauer G.1, Koshelev A .I.2, Koshelev V.A.2, Zagalska M .s
1 - Dept, o f Vertebr. Zoology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
2 - Melitopol Pedagogical University, Melitopol, Ukraine
3 - Dept, o f Genetics and Animals Breeding, University o f Agricultural, Poznan, Poland
М орф ологические вариации и половой дим орф изм взрослы х чаек-
хохотуний Larus cachinnans cachinnans. Н о й б ау ер Г. (N ico laus C opernicus
U niversity , T o ru n , Poland); К ош елев А .И ., К ош елев B.A. (М елитопольский
государственны й педагогический университет, У краи н а); З агальска М .
(U n iversity o f A g ricu ltu ra l, Poznan , Po land).
Исследования проводились в 2000-2001 гг. на юге Запорожской области, па
о-вах М олочного лимана Азовского моря. Сетевыми ловуш ками типа
«цилиндр» было отловлено, прижизненно обследовано и окольцовано 80 экз.
взрослых чаек, окольцовано свыше 3500 подросших птенцов. Измерения
проводились по 28 параметрам (14 метрических и 14 цветовых). Брались
пробы крови из нож ной вены для последующего генетического анализа,
проведена цветная фотосъемка внешнего вида чаек (окраска глаз, ног,
мантии и др.).
Выяснены достоверные различия м еж ду самцами и самками по всем
м ет рическим п оказат елям (сам цы кр уп н ее и т яэ/селее), р а зм а х
индивидуальной изменчивости и частота встречаемости отдельных
признаков у L. с. cahinnans, ее отличия от L. с. michahellis и L. argenta tus. В
изучаемой колонии доля птиц, от несенных к подвиду L. с. michahellis
сост авила 5%. Остальные птицы по всем показат елям от носят ся к
номинальному подвиду L. с. cachinnans.
Introduction
Введение
T he p ro jec t is su p ported by KBN 6 P 0 4 C 04719. T h e tax o n o m ic s ta tu s o f the gulls
from cachinnans g ro u p is n o t c lear and still discussed (Jo h n so n 1985; F ilchagov , 1992; W ink
et al., 1994; H elbig, 1994; H eid rich et a l., 1996; de K n ijf e t al., 2001) M an y au th o rs described
field ch arac te rs o f these form s (K lein 1994, G ru b e r 1995,G a rn e r e t al. 1997, Jonsson 1998).
Still h eated d iscussions u n d e r cachinnans cou ld be caused am ong o th e r th ings by poorly
know n po p u la tio n a l variability w ithin different p o p u la tio n s o f the Yellow-legged Gull. There
п о Neubauer G., Koshelev A.I., Koshelev V.A., Zagalska M.
Morphological variation and sex dimorphism...
are only tw o pap ers describ ing ju s t som e aspects o f the m o rp h o m etric p rob lem s (M ierauskas
et al., 1991; L iebers & D ierschke, 1997). In th is a rtic le we show m orp h o lo g ica l variab ility
w ith in the A zov breed ing p o p u la tio n an d fea tu res to recognize sexes.
M aterial and m ethods
М атери ал и м етоди ка
Gulls were trapped in the breeding colony at Molochny Liman in 2000-2001, a salt reservoir
near the north Azov seashore (20 km southeast from the M elitopol city). Natural form ations around
the Liman are the salina and steppe. Total num ber o f Yellow-legged Gulls on the Liman varies
between 5000 to 6000 o f breeding pairs (Koshelev, 2000; Chernichko et al., 2000). All gulls were
trapped on the nests on the Podkova Island, located near the G irsovka village, where 2,000 pairs
nested then. M ost o f the area is open and flat and only partially vegetated by reeds Phragmites
australis. B irds nests are usually located on the ground, in low, dense vegetation (Salicornia sp.)
or at the edge of reeds. Some nests were found in old C orm orant's nests (to 0.5 m above ground)
or just on the open ground with no vegetation.
Some dead gulls found in the breeding colony and specim ens collected in the INFS -
Italian W ildlife Institute (Bologna, Italy) from Sivash Lake and the Danube Delta were measured.
The total o f m easured cachinnans is 80 birds (50 birds were trapped on M olochny liman, 20 birds
on the Sivash and 10 birds were caught on the Danube).
M easurem ents description
О писание изм ерений
For trapped birds a total o f 28 param eters (14 m etrical and 14 colour features) were taken,
based on our adapted version o f the instruction by P. C hylarecki, W. M eissner and A. Sikora .
Among standard m easurements were: total head length (HE), bill length (BI), tarsus length (TR),
wing length (WI). Additional m easurem ents were: bill height at gonydeal angle (HBIG), minimum
bill height between gonydeal angle and skull (HBIN ), m iddle toe length (M T), and “hand” - the
distance between tip o f 1st and 10th prim ary (DL) on m axim um spread wing, not m easured in
moulting birds. Colours were determ ined for the follow ing parts o f the gull: iris (IR), scale 1 to 4,
where (1) was pure pale with no dark pigm entation, (2) - a few and tiny dark spots, (3) - many,
tiny or big dark spots (at the distance usually seem s to be dark iris) and (4) - lots o f dark p igm en
tation, covering all or alm ost all o f the iris surface - at distance looked as a totally dark eye; eye-
ring (ER) colour was determined in the follow ing scale: (1) - yellow or yellow ish, (2) - pale
orange, (3) - dark orange and (4) - reddish/red. Leg colour was determ ined separately for tarsus,
toes and a sw im m ing web with the sam e scale: (1) - “cadaverous” (pale grey, greyish, green-
grey), (2) - pinkish to flesh pink, with no yellow tone adm ixed, (3) - pinkish with slight yellowish
tinge, (4) - yellowish or pale yellow and (5) - deep yellow. It has to be stressed, that all the colours
were determ ined just after the bird was trapped (colours may change a bit after few m inutes
because o f b ird ’s stress!). M antle colour (M) was determ ined on alive, captured gulls or later, on
the feathers taken from the m antle with the use o f Kodak Gray Scale (Sm all) CAT 152 7654 1995
where 0 is white and 20 is black. The colour o f tongue on P 10 (Z) was determined in three categories:
(1) white/whitish, (2) grey, but lighter than m antle and (3) grey, as dark as a m antle.
Бранта: сборник трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции ' *
Вып. 4. 2001. - Морфология.
To characterize black and white pattern on the outer primaries, following measurements
were taken: maximal length o f the white on P 10 tip (W 10); length o f the white on P9, measured as
the distance between the beginning o f the white spot and the tip o f the feather (W 9); minimal
length of the black bar on P10 (BIO), length o f the black on P9, m easured from the distal end of
grey/white tongue to the end of black bar (B9), in the sam e way length o f black bar on P7-8 was
measured (B7, B8). All the m easurements were taken along the shaft. For two outerm ost prima
ries (P9-10) the types of black/white pattern was noted in scales from 1 to 5. On P 10 the following
types were recognized (T10): (1) - “thayeri-pattern" - a grey or white tongue connected with the
white primary tip, regardless o f presence or absence o f the black bar (2) all white tip o f the
primary, no black markings, (3) - traces o f black near the tip, (4) - an incomplete subterminal
black bar and (5) - a com plete subterminal black bar. For P9 the types were (T9): (1) - “thayeri
pattern” , grey/white tongue connected with the white tip, regardless o f presence or absence o f a
subterminal black bar, (2) - a huge white spot, reaching both feather’s edges, (3) - white spot does
not reach the feather edge, but do reach the second one, (4) - a small white spot on one web only,
not reaching any edges of the feather and (5) - no w hite spot. Also the num ber o f black-tipped
primaries was noted (NB), and the type of black pattern on the innermost primary with dark (TI)
in three categories: ( 1) - only dark spots, (2) - an incom plete black bar and (3) - a complete black
bar.
Blood sam ples were obtained from the most o f the captured birds. Blood was conserved
with EDTA buffor. Sex of gulls was determ ined with use o f m olecular m ethods (Polymerase
Chain Reaction, Griffiths et al., 1998; Backer, 2000; Kahn et al., 1998).
Results
Результаты
Standard m easurem ents. In wing length obvious sexual dimorphism is shown, with only
a small overlap. It means that length o f wing for m ales was a bit higher than that o f for females
(Table 1). The total head length is distinctly higher for m ales (mean 137.1 mm) than for females
(mean 122.9 mm). Combination o f wing length and total head length is very good character distin
guishing sexes (Table 1, Fig. 1). Bill is longer and higher (at gonydeal angle) in males. Both sexes
have the sam e bill proportions, so the bill ratio is the same. A longer bill with less prominent
gonydeal angle in cachinnans results in general bill ‘j iz z ’ - it seem to be thinner and more elon
gated, what is useful in field identification. Note however, that some cachinnans males can look
very heavy-billed, in both hand- and field-appearance and some females surprisingly delicate- and
thin-billed. Both tarsus and middle toe are longer in m ales (Table 1), although covering o f param
eters between the sexes was found.
Iris & Eye-ring. Strong variability was noted in the eye-colouration within examined
gulls. No birds with a pure pale iris (scale 1), without any dark spots were trapped. 26 out of 58
gulls, have a pale iris with a few dark spots admixed (scale 2). Next 11 birds showed a lot of dark
pigmentation, covering most o f the iris (scale 4), what looked as a com pletely dark eye from
distance. At the end o f the scale (4) - completely dark iris - were 21 gulls. Background variability
o f the iris was also recorded , from very pale yellowish to khaki with greenish shade. Within birds
no yellow eye-ring was found. M ost o f gulls (n=56) have eye-ring pale- (24) or dark-orange (30)
and only two individuals have it reddish. Correlation between colours o f iris and eye-ring was
weak (Pearson r - 0.31).
Neubauer G., Koshelev A.I., Koshelev V.A., Zagalska M.
Morphological variation and sex dimorphism...
"£ с p x
SZ 2
с -
% 5
total head length (mm)
общая длина головы (мм)
Fig.l. A combination o f two metric parameters (head length and wing length) is well enough
to determine the sex o f Yelow-legged Gulls.
Puc.l. Комбинация двух метрических параметров (длина головы и длина крыла), используемая
для определения пола чайки хохотуньи.
Variability o f morphological characters within adult Yelow-legged Gulls Larus
cachinnans cachinnans. For each character mean ± standard deviation are given,
in parentheses sample size is shown. Significance levels o f differences between
sexes are solved with the use o f M ulti-Factor A N O VA-lest, N S - not significant
(P>0,05).
Изменчивость морфологических характеристик взрослых особей чайки-хохотуньи.
Для каждого показателя дано среднее значение ± стандартное отклонение, в
скобках указан объем выборки. Для определения уровня различий между полами
использовался мулыпифакторный A N O V A -тест, N S - различие не
достоверно (Р>0,05).
Character
Показатель
Character value,
males
Значение показателя,
самцы
Significance level, P
Степень достоверности
различий между
самцами и самками
Character value, females
Значение показателя, самки
1 2 3 4
WI 454.8±7.2 (20) NS 429.3±7.8 (31)
DL 239.0(1) - 220.9±4.9 (13)
НЕ 137.1 ±2.4 (22) <0.000000 122.9±2.9 (33)
BI 63.2±2.4 (25) <0.000000 55.0±2.9 (34)
HBIG 19.9±0.8 (25) <0.000000 17.4±0.6 (34)
HBIN 18.7+0.1 (25) <0.000000 16.1 ±0.5 (34)
Bill ratio 3.17±0.1 (25) NS 3.17±0.1 (34)
TR 73.6±2.0 (22) <0.000000 67.2±2.5 (31)
МТ 69.9± 1.6 (21) NS 64.0±2.2 (26)
IR colour 3.0±0.9 (24) NS 2.8±0.9 (33)
Table.
Таблица.
Бранта: сборник трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции ^
Вып. 4. 2001. - Морфология.
Continuation o f the table
1 2 3 4
ER colour 2.5±0.6 (23) NS 2.7±0.5 (33)
Legs colour 1.8±1.3 (24) NS 1.9±1.4 (31)
M 6.4±0.5 (14) NS 6.2+0.7 (22)
NB 6.4±0.5 (24) 0.05 6.1+0.4 (34)
T1 1.9±1.0 (24) NS 2.4±0.8 (34)
T10 2.8±1.1 (24) NS 2.6±1.1 (34)
T9 2.0±0.0 (24) NS 2.1 ±0.3 (34)
BIO 31.3±12.2 (24) NS 20.5+12.9 (33)
B9 79.5±8.8 (23) 0.005 67.7±14.7 (34)
B8 60.4±7.9 (24) 0.007 54.5±5.8 (34)
B7 36.9±4.5 (24) 0.03 34.3±3.2 (34)
W10 66.3+4.1 (23) 0.02 63.4±4.2 (34)
W9 52.6±4.2 (22) NS 50.2±4.3 (33)
Z 1.1 ±0.3 (24) NS 1.1 ±0.4 (34)
Note: explanation of abbreviations is given above in the text.
Примечания:
WI - длина крыла; DL-длина между кончиком 1-го и 10-го первостепенных маховых при максимальном
размахе крыла; НЕ-обшая длина головы; BI - длина клюва; HBIG - высота клюва в районе гонидиального
угла; HBIN-минимальная высота клюва между гонидиальным углом и челюстью; Bill ratio - пропорции
клюва; TR-длина цевки; МТ-длина среднего пальца; IR colour- цвет зрачка; ER colour- цвет окологлазного
кольца; Legs colour-цвет ног; М- оперение; NB-число первостепенных маховых с черными кончиками; Т1 -
тип окраски черного участка на внутренних первостепенных маховых; Т10 - тип окраски Р10 (десятого
первостепенного махового пера); T9 - тип окраски Р9: В10 - минимальная длина черного участка на Р10;
В7, В8, В9 - длина черного участка на Р7, Р8, Р9, измеренная от дистального конца серого/белого языка до
конца черного участка; W10 - максимальная длина белого участкана кончике Р10; W9 - длина белого
участка на Р9, измеренная от начала белого пятна до кончика пера; P I , Р2, РЗ, Р... - номер первостепенных
маховых перьев.
Bill colour. The bill colour was usually pale yellow. It is worth to notice, that only females
(5 o f 32) have an amount o f reddish tinge on upper mandible, in all males the reddish spot was
restricted to the lower one. Out o f 55 otherw ise fully adults, 24 had various dark signs on the bill,
which varied from a single dark grey spot to a complete black bill band. Recorded in the same
proportion in both sexes, it was present also in 11- and 12-years old birds.
Legs. Legs colour varied strongly. 68% of trapped gulls (n=56) had legs with “cadaverous”
colour The second big group consists o f birds with some yellow on the legs (32% ), the most
numerous were pale yellow- or yellow ish-legged birds. No birds with intensive, deep yellow legs
were trapped. There are no difference in colour between tarsus, toes and a sw im m ing web in
general. The only bird (a male) w ith very intensively coloured tarsus and toes (pale yellow, 4 on
the scale), had the sw im m ing web flesh yellow (5 on the scale, the sam e as in michahellis). Two
birds (female and male) had also m ore intensive colour on the sw im m ing web (pinkish) than on
the rest o f leg (cadaverous).
To check how the colour depends on the light, we took a sam ple o f birds seen from the
distance. In the group of 104 adults, 58 had “cadaverous” legs and 46 had more or less yellowish
tinge, som etim es very deep yellow. It is need to notice, that in strong sunlight “cadaverous”, wet
legs (with a slight yellowish tone) seen from a distance can look quite yellow.
114 -ф Neubauer G., Koshelev A.I., Koshelev V.A., Zagalska M.
Morphological variation and sex dimorphism...
M antle colour. The grey mantle colour varies strongly within cachinnans gulls. The lightest
individuals were about 5.0 on the Kodak scale, while the darkest were at about 7.0 (m edium
neutral grey), with the mean for all exam ined birds (n=56) placed at 6.22, w ithout differences
between males and females (Table).
VVing-tip pattern. B lack-and-w hite prim ary patterns are known to be d iagnostic in
identification of these gulls (Cram p & Sim m ons, 1983, M ierauskas et al., 1991, Garner, Quinn,
1997; Jonsson, 1998).
Num ber o f black-tipped prim aries. Varies from 5 to 7, and most frequent are birds with
six or seven prim aries with black. C om m onest pattern is a com plete or near-com plete bar on P5,
but on P4 only single dark spots in 24% of individuals (outer web) were noted. E xceptionally one
female had only 5 black-tipped prim aries. Fem ales evidently tend to have m ore w hite on the
primaries, what results also in having m ore restricted black parts o f the feathers in all exam ined
features (P9 & P 10 patterns, black and white dim ensions, num ber o f prim aries with black). D iffer
ences between sexes are m arked and statistically significant (Table 1): 82% o f fem ales and 63%
of males had 6 black-tipped prim aries, against only 15% o f fem ales and 37% o f m ales with 7
black-tipped primaries.
O uterm ost prim ary (P10). On P10 the connection o f grey tongue and w hite prim ary tip
and the extension o f subterm inal black bar developing were noted (see M aterial and m ethods).
The one extrem e is the lightest variant - a “thayerr-pattern (very pale, usually w hite tongue
connected with white primary tip, regardless o f developing extension o f subterm inal black bar),
the darkest one - fully developed subterm inal bar, crossing the feather transversally (with the
black bar separating the pale tongue from the white prim ary tip).
Variability was found within population (figure 2). M ost num erous, together giving over
70% were types 2 and 3 (all-w hite P I 0 tip or white w ith traces o f black). “772ayen'”-pattern was
present in about 8% of birds, all o f them were females. P10 patterns o f females differed from that
of males, having more white in general (highly significant, x2 test, p<0.001). The black bar (BIO),
separating the end o f the inner web tongue from the white prim ary tip was narrow.
type 5
морфі 5
type 3
M орфі 3
25%
type 2
морфі 2
58%
type 3
морфа 3
38%
2
морфа 2
35%
type 5
морфа 5
морфа
type 1
морфі 1
12%
Fig. 2. Percentage o f particular PIO patterns in Yelow-legged Gull males (left) and fem ales
(right).
Рис. 2. Процентное соотношение разных морф Р10 у самцов (слева) и самок (справа)
чайки-хохотуньи.
Бранта: сборник трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции ^
Вып. 4. 2001. - Морфология.
Very pale with a white or whitish inner web tongue strongly contrasting with black, and
only in 4 o f 55 individuals the border between white and black was a bit diffused. All of them
were males, with significantly more black on P10 (41.2 mm) than the mean for males (31 mm).
The white tongue o f cachinnans is the deepest am ong all European gulls, ending 58-115 mm
from the prim ary tip, and often has a specific shape. The white primary tip (W 10) is long, with
a mean of 65 mm (Table).
Second outerm ost prim ary (P9). The P9 pattern was very stable (the reverse of P 10
patterns). A huge white mirror, reaching both feather’s edges was present in all males and in
the m ost females (figure 3). Only 5 females showed it reduced reaching one o f primary edges,
but it still was present on both webs. One bird, a female, had “thayeri”-pattern. The black bar
is strongly broader than on the outerm ost primary (Table). The white was shorter than on P10.
The inner web tongue was still very pale, although it can be darker grey than on P10; the
typical shape and sharp delineation from black was present in alm ost all cases.
Fig. 3. Percentage o f particular P9patterns in Yelow-legged Gull males (left) andfemales
(right).
Рис.З. Процент/toe соотношение отдельных морф P9 у самцов (слева) и самок (справа)
чайки-хохотуньи.
Discussion
О бсуж дение
Identification o f large gulls require a combination o f m ultiple field m arks (Klein & Gruber,
1997; Jonsson, 1998). Variability within the Azov population seem s to be more pointed for fe
males. There are also some features, mainly in basic m easurem ents (Cram p & Simmons, 1983),
giving a possibility to distinguish sexes. It is evident from the m easurem ents, that the males are
larger then the females (Harris & Hope Jones, 1962).
The difference between minimal and m aximal (at gonydeal angle) bill height is obviously
small within cachinnans gulls (0.4-2.1, mean 1.3 mm), sm aller than in the two other European
populations (michahellis and argentatus, t-test, p=0.001; Zagalska & Neubauer, in p rep ). Pres
ence o f dark spots on the bill were in the sam e proportion as presented by Liebers & Dierschke
116 Neubauer G., Koshelev A.I., Koshelev V.A., Zagalska M.
Morphological variation and sex dimorphism...
(1997). It seem s to be specific at least for part o f the population. There is no evidence to determine
age o f the birds by o f the presence a dark sings on the bill.
The iris colour in cachinnans group is variable, but often more or less dark coloured (Garner,
Quinn, 1997; Klein & Gruber, 1997), and it is a good feature to distinguish cachinnans from
other European populations, among which dark-eyed gulls are extremely rare. No pale irises without
any dark spots were noted in the exam ined birds. G ulls observed from the distance seem to be
“pale-eyed” but in hand iris in most cases has dark spots with different intensity. L iebers & Dierschke
(1997) suggest that over 60% of the birds have pale iris. It is very possible that to this group birds
with iris signed in our classification as a type 2 and probably som etim es type 3 were pooled.
C lassification suggested by these authors are based on the impression which could depend on
light intensity and can not be treated as a fact. Furtherm ore, a very weak correlation was found
between colour o f iris and eye-ring, in opposite to L iebers & D ierschke (1997).
We agree that from the distance legs in m any birds are deep yellow (Liebers & Dierschke,
1997) especially under specific light condition (e.g. sun set). In-hand no birds had deep yellow
legs (such as michahellis), but adm ixed yellow or yellow ish tones.
Fem ales evidently tend to have more white on the prim aries, resulting also in having more
restricted black parts o f the feathers in all exam ined features (P9 & P10 patterns, black and white
dimensions, num ber o f prim aries with black). According to M ierauskas et al. (1991) the num ber
o f the black-tipped prim aries was 6 or 7, but in our analysis we found differences between sexes to
be significant (Table). W hile com paring our data referring types o f black on P10 and P9 and data
by M ierauskas et al. (1991) we found some new aspects. Interesting is that “thayeri” type ap
peared on the P10 (not recorded by M ierauskas et al. 1991) and/or on the P9, but only in females.
Additionally on the P9 in m ales only type 2 was noticed. It seem s to be very stable feature al
though there no statistically significant difference (Table) betw een sexes.
In summary, the m orphom etric variation o f cachinnans could be very wide, but knowing
the biom etrical range of variability it is possible to d istinguish sexes on alive birds. Within the
defined, there exist variation typical and unique characters for cachinnans (Jonsson, 1998).
Кошелев А.И. Миграционные перемещения ссверо-азовской чайки-хохотуньи (Larus cachinnans)
// Птицы Азово-Черноморского региона на рубеже тысячелетий. - Мат. конф. 10-14 февр.
- Одесса: АстроПринт, 2000. - С.25-26.
Chemichko I.I., Siokhin V.D., Koshelev A.I., Diadicheva Е.Л., Kirikova Т.Л. Molochnyi liman //
Numbers and distribution of Breeding waterbirds in the Wetlands of Azov-Black Sea Region of
Ukraine. - Kiev, 2000. - PP. 339-372. (In Russian)
Cramp S. & Simmons K.E.L. (eds). The Birds of the Western Palearctic. - Vol. 3. - New York: Oxford
University Press, 1983. - 620 p.
Filchagov A.V. State of knowledge of characteristic features in argentatus-cachinnans-fuscus complex
from the Eastern Europe and Northern Asia // The Herring Gull and Related Forms: distribution,
systematics, ecology / Zubakin V.A., Panov E.N.- Stavropol, 1992. - PP.3-8.
Gamer М., Quinn D. Identification of Yellow-legged Gulls in Britain. - Brit. Birds. - №90. - 1997. -
PP.369-383.
Griffiths R., Double M.C., Orr K , Dawson R.J.G. A DNA test to sex most birds // Molecular Ecology.
№7. - 1998. - PP. 1071- 1075.
Backer A.J. (eds.) Molecular methods in ecology. - London, Blackwell Science: 2000. - 420p.
References
Литература
Бранта: сборник трудов Азово-Черноморской орнитологической станции ^
Вып. 4. 2001. - Морфология.
Gruber D. Die Kennzeichen und das Vorkommen der Weißkopfmcpwe Larus cachinnans in Europa // Limicola
- №9. - 1995. - SS.121-165.
Harris M.P. & Hope Jones P. Sexual differences in measurements of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls
// Br. Birds. - №62. - 1962. - PP. 129-133.
Heidrich P., Ristow D. & Wink M. Differenzierung von Gelb- und Schwarzschnabelsturmtauchern
(Calonectris ciiomedea, Puffinuspuffinus, P. yelkouan) und Großmtpwen des Silbenrupwcnkomplexes
{Larus argentatus, L.fuscus, L. cachinnans) II J. Om. - №137. - 1996. - PP.281-294.
Helbig A. Genctische Differenzierung von Mtpwen und Sturmtauchem: Ein Kommentar // J. Om. №135.-
1994. - PP.609-615.
Johnson C. Biochemical genetic variation in populations of Larus argentatus and Larus fuscus in northwestern
Europe // Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. - №24. - 1985. - PP.349-363.
Jonsson L. Yellow-legged gulls and yellow-legged Herring Gulls in the Baltic // Alula. - №3. - 1998. -
PP.74-90.
Kahn N.W., John J.S., Quinn T.W. Chromosome-specific Intron Size Differences in the Avian CHD Gene
Provide an Efficient Method for Sex Identification in Birds // The Auk. - №155. - 1998. - PP. 1074-
1078.
Klein R. Silberm<pwen Larus argentatus und Weißkopfmtpwen Larus cachinnans auf Moldeponien
in Mecklenburg - erste Ergebnisse einer Ringfundanalyse// Vogelwelt. - № 1 1 5 .- 1994. -
PP.267-286.
Klein R. & Gruber D. Die Bestimmung und taxonomische Stellung der in Mitteleuropa auftretenden
Weißkopfm<pwen Larus cachinnans II Limicola. - №11. - 1997. - SS.49-75.
de Knijf P., Denkers F., van Swelm N.D. & Kuiper M. Genetic Affinities Within the Herring Gull Larus
argentatus Assemblage Revealed by AFLP Genotyping // J. Mol. Evol. - №52. - 2001. - PP.85-93.
Liebers D. & Dierschke V. Variability of field characters in adult Pontic Yellow-legged Gulls // Dutch
Birding. - №19. - 1997. - PP.277-280.
Mierauskas P., Greimas E. & Buzun V. A comparison of morphometries, wing-tip pattern and vocalisations
between Yellow-legged Herring Gulls (Larus argentatus) from eastern Baltic and Larus cachinnans /
/ Acta Om. Lituanica. - №4. - 1991. - PP.3-26.
Wink M., Kahl U. & Heidrich P. Lassen sich Silber-, Weißkopf- und Heringsmqnve (Lams argentatus,
L. cachinnans, L.fuscus) molekulargenetisch unterscheiden? // J. Om. - №135. - 1994. - SS.73-80.
|