Worldwide, seabird populations are facing significant declines due to various threats, making them valuable bioindicators of marine ecosystem changes. Understanding their foraging behavior and identifying crucial foraging areas (FAs) is essential for their conservation. In this study, the focus was on Olrog’s gull (Larus atlanticus), a near-threatened species endemic to the Atlantic coast of Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. The objectives were to assess the distribution of FAs and home ranges of Olrog’s gull and to evaluate the overlap between FAs and protected areas (PAs) in the Bahía Blanca Estuary (BBE), Argentina. Global positioning system (GPS) tracking and dynamic Brownian bridge movement models (dBBMM) were used to analyze Olrog’s gull behavior during their breeding season. The results revealed well-defined FAs, with 72% of them located outside PAs, raising concerns about potential threats to the species. Sex-related differences were observed, with females covering longer distances during foraging flights. In addition, several FAs were located near industrial sites, posing health risks due to pollution. This study contributes novel insights into Olrog’s gull foraging ecology, particularly in the most critical breeding area for the species. A dynamic web application was developed to provide rapid access to comprehensive information applicable to conservation actions. These findings underscore the need for enhanced protection of critical FAs, particularly those lying outside currently PAs.

This research emphasizes the importance of well-informed policy decisions to enhance ongoing conservation initiatives for Olrog’s gull populations and their habitats, particularly in the face of increasing threats posed by human activities.

在世界范围内，由于各种威胁，海鸟数量正面临大幅下降，这使它们成为海洋生态系统变化的宝贵生物指标。了解它们的觅食行为并确定关键的觅食区域 (FA) 对于保护它们至关重要。在这项研究中，重点是奥尔罗格鸥（Larus atlanticus），这是阿根廷、乌拉圭和巴西南部大西洋沿岸特有的近乎濒危物种。目的是评估阿根廷布兰卡港 (BBE) 的 FA 和奥尔罗格鸥栖息地的分布，并评估 FA 和保护区 (PA) 之间的重叠。全球定位系统（GPS）跟踪和动态布朗桥运动模型（dBBMM）被用来分析奥尔罗格海鸥在繁殖季节的行为。结果显示了明确定义的 FA，其中 72% 位于 PA 之外，引发了对该物种潜在威胁的担忧。观察到与性别相关的差异，雌性在觅食飞行中飞行的距离更长。此外，一些FA位于工业场地附近，因污染而带来健康风险。这项研究为奥尔罗格海鸥的觅食生态学提供了新的见解，特别是在该物种最关键的繁殖区域。开发了一个动态网络应用程序，以提供对适用于保护行动的综合信息的快速访问。这些发现强调需要加强对关键FA的保护，特别是那些位于当前PA之外的FA。

这项研究强调了明智的政策决策的重要性，以加强对奥尔罗格海鸥种群及其栖息地的持续保护举措，特别是在面临人类活动造成的日益严重的威胁的情况下。