Short Communications
16 September 2025
Early Access
The potential role of the yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis as a seed disperser of an invasive plant species in the Tuscan Archipelago
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
50
Views
23
Downloads
Authors
Gulls have a significant role as seed dispersers in coastal habitats and as drivers of plant movements within and between islands. We report the observed interaction between the Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) and species of cacti of the genus Opuntia in Capraia Island, in the Tuscan Archipelago.
Altmetrics
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Citations
Ando, H., Martín‐Vélez, V., Tavecchia, G., Traveset, A., Jiménez‐Martín, I., Igual, J. M., et al. (2024). Gulls contribute to olive seed dispersal within and among islands in a mediterranean coastal area. Journal of Biogeography, 51(1), 131-139. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14735
Calvino-Cancela, M. (2011). Gulls (laridae) as frugivores and seed dispersers. Plant Ecology, 212(7), 1149-1157. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-011-9894-2
Foggi, B., Lastrucci, L., Viciani, D., Brunialti, G., & Benesperi, R. (2011). Long-term monitoring of an invasion process: The case of an isolated small wetland on a mediterranean island. Biologia, 66, 638-644. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-011-0057-7
Lazzaro, L., Ferretti, G., Giuliani, C., & Foggi, B. (2014). A checklist of the alien flora of the Tuscan archipelago (italy). Webbia, 69(1), 157-176. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00837792.2014.907981
Misuri, A., Mugnai, M., Giunti, M., Dell’Olmo, L., & Lazzaro, L. (2024). Invasive alien plants at Capraia Island (Italy): Distribution and threats to Natura 2000 habitats. Plant Sociology, 61(1), 31–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/pls2024611/02
Nogales, M., Medina, F. M., Quilis, V., & González-Rodríguez, M. (2001). Ecological and biogeographical implications of yellow-legged gulls (larus cachinnans pallas) as seed dispersers of rubia fruticosa ait. (rubiaceae) in the canary islands. Journal of Biogeography, 28(9), 1137-1145. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.2001.00622.x
Padrón, B., Nogales, M., Traveset, A., Vilà, M., Martínez-Abraín, A., Padilla, D. P., et al. (2011). Integration of invasive opuntia spp. by native and alien seed dispersers in the mediterranean area and the canary islands. Biological Invasions, 13(4), 831-844. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-010-9872-y
Vila, M., & Gimeno, I. (2003). Seed predation of two alien opuntia species invading mediterranean communities. Plant Ecology, 167(1), 1-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023956108731
Vilà, M., Burriel, J. A., Pino, J., Chamizo, J., Llach, E., Porterias, M., et al. (2003). Association between opuntia species invasion and changes in land-cover in the Mediterranean region. Global Change Biology, 9(8), 1234-1239. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2486.2003.00652.x
How to Cite
The potential role of the yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis as a seed disperser of an invasive plant species in the Tuscan Archipelago. (2025). Rivista Italiana Di Ornitologia. https://doi.org/10.4081/rio.2025.776
Copyright (c) 2025 Simona Lippi, Massimiliano Sanfilippo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.