Male seagulls seem to be more vulnerable to their environment during embryonic development than females. When researchers took a seagull’s last-laid eggs and either incubated it alone or in contact with other eggs, the males hatched faster than females if they had been incubated in isolation. When they were in contact with other eggs, the males didn’t hatch as fast and they fledged (new word alert! fledging means developing wing feathers that are large enough to fly) in significantly poorer condition than females. The researchers from the University of Glasgow think that the females adjust better to different environments. Female seagulls rule. Except when they bother you at the beach. [EurekAlert!]
