The relict gull or Central Asian gull (Ichthyaetus relictus) is a medium-sized gull. It was believed to be an eastern race of the Mediterranean gull until 1971 and was traditionally placed in the genusLarus.
The gull is 44 to 45 cm long with a stocky, thick body. Non-breeding adults feature uniformly dark-smudged ear-coverts and hind crown, white-tipped wings, prominent, isolated black subterminal markings on outer primaries, and no white leading edge to outer wing. Breeding birds have black hoods (including napes) with grey-brown foreheads, and broad, white, half-moon colouring behind, below, and above their eyes. Their legs are orange and their bills scarlet. The name comes from its status as a relict species.[3]
Distribution and habitatedit
The gull breeds in several locations in Mongolia (e.g., Galuut Lake, Khukh Lake, and Chukh Lake), two in Kazakhstan, one in Russia, and one in China (Lake Hongjiannao). Small numbers appear to migrate to South Korea during the nonbreeding period. There is additional evidence that larger numbers may migrate to eastern China as well, but this is not verified.
The gulls breed starting in early June and going through early August in colonies on islands in saltwaterlakes.[4] These sites are fragile. Nesting does not occur when lakes dry up or when water levels are too high. When islands become too small or overgrown with vegetation or so large that they join at the shore, the birds do not nest either.[5] During non-breeding periods, the birds can be found on estuarine mud and sandflats.
Status and conservationedit
The population is estimated to be at 10,000 or fewer, with numbers dropping. It is classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List. Its greatest threats are changes of water level in the breeding lakes, predation from other gulls, hailstorms and flooding. Human disturbance has increased their vulnerability to all these factors, resulting in further risks for the adult gulls and increased mortality for chicks and eggs. They are also experiencing trouble migrating to breeding grounds due to the lack of useable stopover locations.[6] In order to combat this, nature reserves in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Russia have been established, for example in the Mongol Daguur region.
^Ming Ma, Ying Chen, Kedeerhan Bayahen, Baowen Hu, Fei Li, Jiaqing Wu, Xiang Gao, Yu Mei, "Seasonal changes in the number of Relict Gull (Larus relictus) at Ebinur Lake, Western China", Journal of Arid Land, 2010, volume 2, number 2, pp 151−155, Retrieved May 2, 2015
^Li, T., Guo, S., An, D., & Nametso, M. (2019). Study on water and salt balance of plateau salt marsh wetland based on time-space watershed analysis. Ecological Engineering, 138, 160–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.07.027
^Wang, Q., Yang, C., Hu, D., Xiao, H., & Zhang, D. H. (2022). Breeding Population Dynamics of Relict Gull (Larus relictus) in Hongjian Nur, Shaanxi, China. Animals, 12(8), 1035. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12081035
^Liu, D., Zhang, G., Jiang, H., Chen, L., Meng, D., & Lu, J. (2017). Seasonal dispersal and longitudinal migration in the Relict Gull Larus relictus across the Inner-Mongolian Plateau. PeerJ, 5, e3380. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3380
Birdlife.org
Pons J.M., Hassanin, A., and Crochet P.A.(2005). Phylogenetic relationships within the Laridae (Charadriiformes: Aves) inferred from mitochondrial markers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37(3):686-699
External linksedit
Blue Ocean Network documentary about the Relie Gull
April 15, 2024
relict, gull, relict, gull, central, asian, gull, ichthyaetus, relictus, medium, sized, gull, believed, eastern, race, mediterranean, gull, until, 1971, traditionally, placed, genus, larus, conservation, statusvulnerable, iucn, cites, appendix, cites, scientif. The relict gull or Central Asian gull Ichthyaetus relictus is a medium sized gull It was believed to be an eastern race of the Mediterranean gull until 1971 and was traditionally placed in the genus Larus Relict gullConservation statusVulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix I CITES 2 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder CharadriiformesFamily LaridaeGenus IchthyaetusSpecies I relictusBinomial nameIchthyaetus relictus Lonnberg 1931 SynonymsLarus relictus Lonnberg 1931 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Status and conservation 4 References 5 External linksDescription editThe gull is 44 to 45 cm long with a stocky thick body Non breeding adults feature uniformly dark smudged ear coverts and hind crown white tipped wings prominent isolated black subterminal markings on outer primaries and no white leading edge to outer wing Breeding birds have black hoods including napes with grey brown foreheads and broad white half moon colouring behind below and above their eyes Their legs are orange and their bills scarlet The name comes from its status as a relict species 3 Distribution and habitat editThe gull breeds in several locations in Mongolia e g Galuut Lake Khukh Lake and Chukh Lake two in Kazakhstan one in Russia and one in China Lake Hongjiannao Small numbers appear to migrate to South Korea during the nonbreeding period There is additional evidence that larger numbers may migrate to eastern China as well but this is not verified The gulls breed starting in early June and going through early August in colonies on islands in saltwater lakes 4 These sites are fragile Nesting does not occur when lakes dry up or when water levels are too high When islands become too small or overgrown with vegetation or so large that they join at the shore the birds do not nest either 5 During non breeding periods the birds can be found on estuarine mud and sandflats Status and conservation editThe population is estimated to be at 10 000 or fewer with numbers dropping It is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List Its greatest threats are changes of water level in the breeding lakes predation from other gulls hailstorms and flooding Human disturbance has increased their vulnerability to all these factors resulting in further risks for the adult gulls and increased mortality for chicks and eggs They are also experiencing trouble migrating to breeding grounds due to the lack of useable stopover locations 6 In order to combat this nature reserves in Mongolia Kazakhstan and Russia have been established for example in the Mongol Daguur region References edit BirdLife International 2012 Larus relictus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012 Retrieved 29 November 2013 old form url Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 Ming Ma Ying Chen Kedeerhan Bayahen Baowen Hu Fei Li Jiaqing Wu Xiang Gao Yu Mei Seasonal changes in the number of Relict Gull Larus relictus at Ebinur Lake Western China Journal of Arid Land 2010 volume 2 number 2 pp 151 155 Retrieved May 2 2015 Li T Guo S An D amp Nametso M 2019 Study on water and salt balance of plateau salt marsh wetland based on time space watershed analysis Ecological Engineering 138 160 170 https doi org 10 1016 j ecoleng 2019 07 027 Wang Q Yang C Hu D Xiao H amp Zhang D H 2022 Breeding Population Dynamics of Relict Gull Larus relictus in Hongjian Nur Shaanxi China Animals 12 8 1035 https doi org 10 3390 ani12081035 Liu D Zhang G Jiang H Chen L Meng D amp Lu J 2017 Seasonal dispersal and longitudinal migration in the Relict Gull Larus relictus across the Inner Mongolian Plateau PeerJ 5 e3380 https doi org 10 7717 peerj 3380 Birdlife org Arkive org Pons J M Hassanin A and Crochet P A 2005 Phylogenetic relationships within the Laridae Charadriiformes Aves inferred from mitochondrial markers Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37 3 686 699External links editBlue Ocean Network documentary about the Relie Gull Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Relict gull amp oldid 1216006375, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
