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The importance of land-based prey for sympatrically breeding giant petrels at sub-Antarctic Marion Island

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

P.J. Nico de Bruyn
Affiliation:
Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
John Cooper
Affiliation:
Avian Demography Unit, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
Marthán N. Bester
Affiliation:
Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
Cheryl A. Tosh
Affiliation:
Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa

Abstract

Northern (Macronectes halli) and southern (M. giganteus) giant petrels breed at different times at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Long-term census and breeding success data are used to test for competitive overlap between the two species by correlating population trends with those of land-based prey/carrion species. No parameter was singularly important in population regulation of either giant petrel species and the assumed dependence of breeding northern giant petrels on southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina carrion is not entirely supported.

Type
Life Sciences
Copyright
Antarctic Science Ltd 2007

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