Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Skip to main content

Advertisement

What is out there: diversity in feeding of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) around the Falkland Islands (Southwest Atlantic)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polar Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During austral spring 2000, the diet of Gentoo penguins, Pygoscelis papua, was studied and compared to prey availability, assessed by trawl and plankton surveys, in waters adjacent to a number of colonies along the coast of West Falkland. There was good agreement in size and abundance of key prey species in the penguin diet and from the plankton and trawl surveys. The diet of birds breeding adjacent to shallow sheltered waters was dominated by demersal species, in particular crustaceans, Munida spp. whilst birds breeding adjacent to deeper exposed waters generally preyed upon pelagic species of fish, Falkland herring Sprattus fuegensis and squid, Moroteuthis ingens. Gentoo penguins generally foraged at depths of up to 30 m, relatively close to the coast, and illustrated a certain degree of selection of prey species where possible, thus providing evidence that they are not fully opportunistic predators.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boersma PD, Stokes DL, Strange IJ (2002) Applying ecology to conservation: tracking breeding penguins at New Island South reserve, Falkland Islands. Aquat Conserv Mar Freshw Ecosyst 12:63–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boltovskoy D, Gibbons M, Hutchings L, Binet D (1999) General biological features of the South Atlantic. In: Boltovskoy D (ed) South Atlantic zooplankton, vol 1. Backhhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp 1–42

  • Bost CA, Koubbi P, Genevois F, Ruchon L, Ridoux V (1994a) Gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua diet as an indicator of planktonic availability in the Kerguelen Islands. Polar Biol 14:147–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bost CA, Pütz K, Lage J (1994b) Maximum diving depth and diving patterns of the Gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua at the Crozet Islands. Mar Ornithol 22:237–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke MR (1986) A handbook for the identification of Cephalopod beaks. Clarendon, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Clausen AP (2000) Falkland Islands seabird monitoring programme annual report 1999/00. Falklands Conservation, Stanley, 56 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Clausen AP (2001) Falkland Island seabird monitoring programme annual report 2000/01. Falklands Conservation, Stanley, 50 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Clausen AP, Huin N (2002) Falkland Islands seabird monitoring programme annual report 2001/02. Falklands Conservation, Stanley

    Google Scholar 

  • Clausen AP, Huin N (2003) Status and numerical trends of king, gentoo and rockhopper penguins breeding in the Falklands. Waterbirds 26(4):389–402

    Google Scholar 

  • Clausen AP, Pütz K (2002) Recent trends in diet composition and productivity of Gentoo, Magellanic and Rockhopper penguins in the Falkland Islands. Aquat Conserv Mar Freshw Ecosyst 12:51–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clausen AP, Pütz K (2003) Winter diet and foraging range of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) from Kidney Cove, Falkland Islands. Polar Biol 26:32–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortés E (1997) A critical review of methods of studying fish feeding based on analysis of stomach contents: application to the elasmobranch fishes. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 54:726–738

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croxall JP, Lishman G (1987) The food and feeding ecology of penguins. In: Croxall JP (ed) Seabirds, feeding ecology and role in marine ecosystems. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

  • Croxall JP, Davis RW, O’Connell MJ (1988) Diving patterns in relation to diet of gentoo and macaroni penguins at South Georgia. Condor 90:157–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Huin N (2003) Falkland Islands seabird monitoring programme annual report 2002/03. Falklands Conservation, Stanley

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs CJ (1989) Ecological methodology. Harper Collins, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Lescroël A, Ridoux V, Bost CA (2004) Spatial and temporal variation in the diet of the gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) at Kerguelen Islands. Polar Biol 27:206–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pütz K (2002) Spatial and temporal variability in the foraging areas of breeding King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Condor 104:528–538

    Google Scholar 

  • Pütz K, Ingham RJ, Smith JG (2000) Satellite tracking of the winter migration of Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) breeding in the Falkland Islands. Ibis 142:614–622

    Google Scholar 

  • Pütz K, Ingham RJ, Smith JG, Croxall JP (2001) Population trends, breeding success and diet composition of gentoo Pygoscelis papua, magellanic Spheniscus magellanicus and rockhopper Eudyptes chrysocome penguins in the Falkland Islands. Polar Biol 24:793–807

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pütz K, Smith JG, Ingham RJ, Lüthi BH (2003) Satellite tracking of male rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome during the incubation period at the Falkland Islands. J Avian Biol 34:139–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White RW, Gillon KW, Black AD, Reid JB (2002) The distribution of seabirds and marine mammals in Falkland Islands waters. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, 106 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams TD (1995) The penguins. Oxford University Press, Oxford, p 295

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams TD, Kato A, Croxall JP, Naito Y, Briggs DR, Rodwell S (1992) Diving patterns and performances in non-breeding gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) during winter. Auk 109:223–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson RP (1984) An improved stomach pump for penguins and other seabirds. J Field Ornithol 55:9–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson RP (1989) Diving depths of gentoo Pygoscelis papua and Adelie Pygoscelis adeliae penguins at Esperanza Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Cormorant 17:1–8

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank FIFD scientists and crewmembers of FPRV Dorada and Sigma for their generous help in conducting this study, and the Director of Fisheries, John Barton and Fortuna Ltd for supporting this work, and Dr. Paul Brickle (FIFD) for valuable consultations related to the statistical analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea P. Clausen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Clausen, A.P., Arkhipkin, A.I., Laptikhovsky, V.V. et al. What is out there: diversity in feeding of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) around the Falkland Islands (Southwest Atlantic). Polar Biol 28, 653–662 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-005-0738-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-005-0738-1

Keywords