Ecology Summary - Gelochelidon nilotica
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Ecology of Gelochelidon nilotica
 
Main Ref. Enticott, J. and D. Tipling, 1997
Remarks Surface seizing; coastal; coastal Islands (Ref. 356). Feeds by dipping to the sea surface with occasional plunge-dives. Breeds colonially in salt marshes, salt works, coastal dunes, islands and freshwater lagoons in southern North America, Caribbean, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and northern Africa (Ref. 84934). Gull-billed terns are observed to display group adherence. This species has a high nest fidelity in stable habitats, and yet when environmental disasters occur, they retain their mates and settle with the same neighbors at the breeding locality (Ref. 87784).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Gelochelidon nilotica may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Enticott, J. and D. Tipling, 1997
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref. Enticott, J. and D. Tipling, 1997

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method original sample unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 3.90 0.52 Troph of juv./adults.
From individual food items 4.13 0.62 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Bogliani, G., M. Fasola, L. Canova and N. Saino, 1990
Ref. [ e.g. 3742]
Glossary [ e.g. cnidaria]
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