Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Avian predation at a Southern Rockhopper Penguin colony on Staten Island, Argentina

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

Abstract

We studied predation risk in relation to nest location and subcolony size in Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) during the chick-rearing period. Striated Caracaras (Phalcoboenus australis), the main predator, preferentially attacked from tussock grasses which are found in the periphery of all subcolonies (peripheral tussocks) and often scattered within them (central tussocks). The greatest numbers of predation and attempted predation events were observed on nests in the periphery of the subcolony next to peripheral tussocks, and on those nests next to central tussocks. Central tussocks offer Striated Caracaras an additional “edge” area from which to prey, much in the same way as do the peripheral tussocks. Predation rate per individual was not correlated with subcolony size possibly due to the presence of central tussocks which, by creating an extra edge area, change the subcolony shape. There is a suggestion (P = 0.06) of increased probability of nest success with subcolony size.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ainley AG, LeResche RE, Sladen WJL (1983) Breeding biology of the Adélie Penguin. University of California Press, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson D J, Hodum PJ (1993) Predator behavior favors clumped nesting in an oceanic seabird. Ecology 74:2462–2464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbosa A, Moreno J, Potti J, Merino S (1997) Breeding group size, nest position and breeding success in the chinstrap penguin. Polar Biol 18:410–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellinato F, Bogliani G (1995) Colonial breeding imposes increased predation: experimental studies with herons. Ethol Ecol Evol 7:347–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birdlife International (online)(2005) Species fact sheet: Phalcoboenus australis. http://www.birdlife.org(8 November 2005)

  • Brown CR, Brown MB (2001) Avian coloniality, progress and problems. Curr Ornithol 16:1–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunton DH (1997) Impacts of predators: center nests are less successful than edge nests in a large colony of Least Terns. Condor 99:372–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brunton D (1999) “Optimal” colony size for Lest Terns: an intercolony study of opposing selective pressures by predators. Condor 101:607–615

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coulson JC (1968) Differences in the Quality of Birds nesting in the Center and on the Edges of a Colony. Nature 217:478–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis L S (1982) Creching behaviour of Adélie penguin chicks (Pygoscelis adeliae). NZJ Zool 9:279–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Descamps S, Gauthier-Claerc M, Le Bohec C, Gender JP, Le Maho Y (2005) Impact of predation on King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus in Crozet Archipelago. Polar Biol 28:303–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emslie SE, Karnovsky N, Trivelpiece W (1995) Avian predation at penguin colonies on King George Island, Antarctica. Wilson Bull 107:317–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton WD (1971) Geometry for the selfish herd. J Theor Biol 31:295–311

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Matías A, Jover L, Ruiz X (2003) Predation on Common Tern Eggs in Relation to Sub-colon Size, Nest Aggregation and Breeding Synchrony. Waterbirds 23:280–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Matías A, Ruiz X (2003) Predation on common tern eggs by the yellow-legged gull at the Ebro Delta. Sci Mar (Barc) 67:95–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter S (1991) The impact of avian predator-scavengers on King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus chicks at Marion Island. Ibis 133:343–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson AL, Bearhop S, Thompson DR (2005) Shape can influence the rate of colony fragmentation in ground nesting seabirds. Oikos 111:473–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Bohec C, Gauthier-Clerc M, Gender J-P, Chatelain N, Le Maho Y (2003) Nocturnal predation of king penguins by giant petrels on the Crozet Islands. Polar Biol 26:587–590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meiburg JA (2006) The biogeography of Striated Caracaras Phalcoboenus australis. Unpublished Master of Arts thesis, The University of Texas at Austin

  • Narosky T, Yzurieta D (1987) Guía para la identificación de las aves de Argentina y Uruguay. Asociación Ornitológica del Plata. Buenos Aires

  • Pettingill Jr OS (1960) Crèche behavior and individual recognition in a colony of Rockhopper Penguins. Wilson Bull 72:213–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Raya Rey A (2006) Ecología trofica de Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome en el mar Austral. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Buenos Aires

  • Raya Rey A, Trathan P, Schiavini A (2007) Inter-annual variation in provisioning behaviour of Southern Rockhopper Penguins Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome at Staten Island, Argentina. Ibis (online early articles)

  • SAS version 9.1 (2006) SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC

  • Schiavini A (2000) Staten Island, Tierra del Fuego: the largest breeding ground for Southern Rockhopper Penguins? Waterbirds 23:286–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Spear LB (1993) Dynamics and effect of western gulls feeding in a colony of guillemots and Brandt’s cormorants. J Anim Ecol 62:399–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • St. Clair CC, St. Clair RC (1996) Causes and consequences of egg loss in rockhopper penguins, Eudyptes chrysocome. Oikos 77:459–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokes DL, Boersma PD (2000) Nesting density and the reproductive success in a colonial seabird, the Magellanic Penguin. Ecology 81:2878–2891

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor RH (1962) The adelie penguin Pygoscelis adeliae at Cape Royds. Ibis 104:176–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Tenaza R (1971) Behavior and nesting success relative to nest location in Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae). Condor 73:81–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viñuela J, Moreno J, Carrascal LM, Sanz JJ, Ferrer M, Amat JA, Belliure J, Cuervo JJ (1996) The effect of hatching date on parental care, chick growth and chick mortality in the chinstrap penguin Pygoscelis antarctica. J Zool Lond 240:51–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wittenberger JF, HuntGL (1985) The adaptive significance of coloniality in birds. In: Farner DS, King JR, Parkes KC (eds) Avian Biology, vol. 8. Academic, New York, pp 1–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Yorio P, Quintana F (1997) Predation by Kelp Gulls Larus dominicanus at a mixed-species colony of Royal Terns Sterna maxima and Cayenne Terns Sterna eurygnatha in Patagonia. Ibis 139:536–541

    Google Scholar 

  • Young E (1994) Skua and penguin. Cambridge University Press, England

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was completed as part of the senior author’s Masters thesis at UNCW. We thank M. Galizio and M. McCartney for their help and comments while serving on the thesis committee. We also thank Soledad Albanese, Carlos Cabrera, Christine Calleri, Carolina Gargiulo, Fernanda Malacrida, and Marcelo Turus for assistance in the field. We also thank Jonathan Meiburg and Andrea Raya Rey for sharing their observations on Striated Caracaras and Rockhopper Penguins at Staten Island. Funding for this research was provided in part by grants from the National Geographic Society (7040-01 and 7572-03) and NSF (OPP-0125098) to S. Emslie. We also appreciate the support of the Argentinean Navy and the “Ushuaia” tour vessel for transportation to and from Staten Island.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC, 28403, USA

    Marcela Liljesthröm & Steven D. Emslie

  2. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, 28403, USA

    Dargan Frierson

  3. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    Adrián Schiavini

Authors
  1. Marcela Liljesthröm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steven D. Emslie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dargan Frierson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Adrián Schiavini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steven D. Emslie.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liljesthröm, M., Emslie, S.D., Frierson, D. et al. Avian predation at a Southern Rockhopper Penguin colony on Staten Island, Argentina. Polar Biol 31, 465–474 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0372-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0372-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation