The diet of Antarctic petrels, cape petrels and southern fulmars rearing chicks in Prydz Bay

Arnould, John P. Y.; Whitehead, Michael D.

doi:10.1017/s0954102091000056

Cited by 31 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…amphipods and/or copepods). Our finding of sirnilar relative trophic levels for adult petrels and P. antarcticum is consistent with results of other studies (Williams 1985, Ridoux & Offredo 1989, Arnould & Whitehead 1991, and suggests that euphausiids may be of primary importance in their respective diets. Higher 615N values in fulmarine petrel chicks relative to P. antarcticum, as found in this study, is consistent with a trophic model in which chick diet is comprised to a significant degree of fish.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…However, Ainley et al (1992), using conventional stomach-sample techniques, found considerable overlap in seabird diet within the confluence of the Scotia and Weddell Seas (including the 4 species in this study), regardless of species, habitat, or year. Additional results from conventional dietary studies are also consistent with the notion of extensive dietary overlap (Ridoux & Offredo 1989, Arnould & Whitehead 1991, Whitehead 1991. Thus, our results plus those of the aforementioned studies lend support to the idea that in the Antarctic food web petrels exploit a small number of trophic levels and that a small subset of the available prey species are disproportionately important (Rau et al 1992).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…These .results are consistent with those of Rau et al (1992). The results of previous studies also suggest that Snow petrels are the most piscivorous of the 4 seabird species examined, whereas Cape petrels consume the highest proportion of kriil, and Antarctic fulmars and petrels are intermediate (Ridoux & Offredo 1989, Arnould & Whitehead 1991). Assessing potential trophic-level differences between adults and chicks using conventional diet-sampling methods is virtually impossible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

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Trophic relationships among Antarctic fulmarine petrels:insights into dietary overlap and chick provisioning strategies inferred from stable-isotope (d15N and d13C) analyses

Hodum¹,

Hobson²

2000

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

118

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We used stable-isotope analysis (SIA) to evaluate trophc relationships in an Antarctic seabird community. We deterrnined natural abundances of stable-nitrogen (St5N) and stable-carbon (613C) isotopes from blood samples (n = 283) from adults and chicks of 4 Antarctic fulrnarine petrel species (Fulmarus glaciaioides, Thalassoica antarctica, Daption capense and Pagodroma nivea) during 2 consecutive breeding seasons, 1994/1995 and 1995/1996, and from representative prey items. Our objectives were to use the isotope approach to infer trophic Status and diet composition within and between species, addressing interspecific and temporal variability within this seabird community, and to investigate potential age-related differences in assumed trophic position within species. Prey 613C values ranged from -26.8% in amphipods to -23.9% in adult Antarctic silverfish. Seabird St3C values ranged from -25.3 Yw in Antarctic petrel chicks to -23.8760 in Cape petrel adults. Prey 6I5N values ranged from 4.0Yw in euphausiids to 10.7Yw in adult Antarctic silverfish. Seabird 615N values ranged from 8 . 4 7~ in Antarctic petrel adults to 12.0%0 in Snow petrel chicks. There was considerable interspecific overlap in assumed trophic positions amongst the 4 petrel species, and we conclude aii species consumed fish and krill. Despite this apparent overlap, the range in 615N values for petrels corresponded to the equivalent of 1 full trophic level, and estimated trophic level varied with both species and age. A simple trophic level model, constructed based on the 615N data, predicted trophic levels ranging from 2.3 in krill to 4.7 in Snow petrel chicks. Snow petrels and Antarctic fulrnars tended to have higher 615N values than Antarctic and Cape petrels, suggesting a higher proportion of fish in their diets. Petrel chicks consistently had higher 615N values than adults, which suggests trophic segregation between adults and chcks. We discuss advantages of selectively provisioning chcks with higher trophic level prey. Extensive overlap and a relatively narrow range of 615N values are consistent with a food web comprised of few trophic steps.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

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Trophic relationships among Antarctic fulmarine petrels:insights into dietary overlap and chick provisioning strategies inferred from stable-isotope (d15N and d13C) analyses

Hodum¹,

Hobson²

2000

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

118

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“…The main prey species are fish (Pleuragramma antarcticum, Electrona antarctica), Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba) and various squid species (Bierman and Voous 1950;Ainley et al 1984Ainley et al , 1991Ainley et al , 1992Ridoux and Offredo 1989;Arnould and Whitehead 1991;Norman and Ward 1992;Hodum and Hobson 2000;Van Franeker et al 2001). Southern Fulmars forage opportunistically and have been observed feeding at a sewage outfall (J.A.…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and abundance of the Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides

et al. 2007

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We reviewed published and unpublished literature to establish the status of the breeding distribution and abundance of Southern Fulmars Fulmarus glacialoides. The species breeds widely throughout the Antarctic and on peri-Antarctic islands. From breeding population data collated from 73 of these localities, we estimated the minimum global population to be about 400,000 breeding pairs. After adjusting for seasonal variation in numbers of breeding pairs based on studies at Ardery Island, East Antarctica, the total global population is estimated to be at least one million breeding pairs. Of this, 72% nest on islands of the Scotia Sea arc and the South Atlantic Ocean. The precision of the estimate on the total number of breeding pairs is low, as several colony estimates were only available as orders of magnitude. Furthermore, different timing of the surveys and the difficulties of censusing colonial cliff-nesting birds reduced the count accuracy.Currently, there are no known threats to the global population, although the effects of fishery activities are not fully known.

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“…Most of the previous studies on Cape Petrel diet were carried out only at some localities, usually involving relatively few birds of unknown status, collected offshore (Falla 1937, Bierman & Voous 1950, Mougin 1975, Ainley et al 1984, and at breeding sites (Beck 1969, Green 1986, Ridoux & Offredo 1989, Arnould & Whitehead 1991, Van Franeker & Wiliams 1992, Creet et al 1994, Ridoux 1994, Soave et al 1996, Coria et al 1997. All available information on diet at breeding sites seem have been obtained largely from analysis of regurgitation of adults and chicks of this fulmarine petrel.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%