Abstract
This study was conducted on seagulls (Aves Laridae) along the area between Tajura and Tripoli harbors (Northwest Libya) during the period from February 2021 to January 2022. aimed to study the diversity and abundance of gulls in the study sites, monitoring and documenting the intra-specific and interspecific behaviors, as well as to investigate the impact of some environmental factors on the diversity and the abundance of gulls. The study also addressed the relationship between the gulls and the fishermen. Regular four visits per month per site were conducted by using a telescope, binoculars and digital camera. For birds accounting, a point transect method was used. A total of 2775 specimens were counted belonging to nine species. This study recorded two rare species: Pallas gull Larus ichthyaetus and Great Black-backed gull Larus marinus. Moreover, three threatened species were recorded: Audouin’s gull Larus audouinii, Slender-billed gull Chroicocephalus genei and Mediterranean gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus. This study recorded a significant negative effect of temperature on the diversity and abundance of gulls. There was also a significant positive relationship between wind speed and the abundance of gulls in the morning times, whilst, the abundance during the evening was negatively affected by the humidity.
