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Breeding biology of Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at the Beagle Channel: interannual variation and its relationship with foraging behaviour

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Abstract

Interannual variation in seabird foraging or reproductive behaviour may reflect fluctuations in marine resources. In this study, we evaluated different foraging and breeding parameters of Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) from Martillo Island in the Beagle Channel, and the relationships between these parameters at different stages within the season (incubation, early and late chick-rearing) over three consecutive breeding seasons (2006–2007, 2007–2008 and 2008–2009). In 2007, we observed greater adult foraging effort (longer foraging trip duration and vertical travel distance, VTD) and lower chick feeding frequency, together with a slower growth rate and later fledging date of chicks, which we suggest was linked to lower food availability near the colony that year. The increased foraging effort appeared to be compensated by enhanced feeding activity (e.g., number of wiggles per dive). However, this increase did not coincide with a larger amount of food load brought to colony, which may have been due to a change in the type or size of prey consumed by the penguins. Magellanic Penguins from Martillo Island showed great plasticity in foraging behaviour, as evidenced by changes in consumed prey type or increased foraging effort and feeding activity when the consumption of their main prey item, Sprattus fuegensis, seemed to decrease. Moreover, during this particular breeding season, although the growth rate of chicks was lower, the breeding success remained constant throughout the study period, suggesting that the penguins managed to compensate for the apparent decrease in Fuegian sprat.

Zusammenfassung

Die Brutbiologie von Magellanpinguinen ( Spheniscus magellanicus ) im Beagle-Kanal: Variation zwischen Jahren und ihre Beziehung zum Nahrungserwerbsverhalten.

Interannuale Variation im Nahrungserwerbs- und/oder Fortpflanzungsverhalten von Seevögeln könnte Schwankungen im marinen Ressourcenangebot widerspiegeln. In dieser Studie haben wir unterschiedliche Nahrungs- und Brutparameter von Magellanpinguinen (Spheniscus magellanicus) auf der Martillo-Insel im Beagle-Kanal sowie die Beziehungen zwischen diesen Parametern in unterschiedlichen Stadien der Brutsaison (Bebrütung, frühe und späte Kükenaufzucht) in drei aufeinanderfolgenden Brutsaisons (2006–2007, 2007–2008 und 2008–2009) ausgewertet. Im Jahr 2007 haben die Altvögel mehr Aufwand in die Nahrungssuche investiert (längere Nahrungstrips und längere vertikale Wegstrecken, VTD) und die Küken weniger häufig gefüttert, und die Küken wuchsen langsamer und flogen später aus. Wir schlagen vor, dass dies mit einer geringeren Nahrungsverfügbarkeit in der Nähe der Kolonie in diesem Jahr zusammenhängt. Der höhere Nahrungssuchaufwand wurde offenbar durch eine erhöhte Nahrungsaufnahme (z. B. Anzahl der Bewegungen pro Tauchgang) ausgeglichen. Dieser Anstieg stand jedoch nicht mit einer größeren zur Kolonie gebrachten Nahrungsmenge in Einklang. Dies könnte auf eine Veränderung des Typs und/oder der Größe der von den Pinguinen aufgenommenen Nahrung zurückzuführen sein. Magellanpinguine von der Martillo-Insel zeigen große Plastizität in ihrem Nahrungserwerbsverhalten. Diese offenbart sich anhand von Veränderungen des konsumierten Nahrungstyps und/oder der Steigerung des Nahrungssuchaufwands und der Nahrungsaufnahme, wenn der Verzehr der Hauptnahrung der Pinguine, Sprattus fuegensis, scheinbar abnimmt. Zudem blieb in dieser bestimmten Brutsaison der Bruterfolg über den gesamten Untersuchungszeitraum hinweg konstant, obwohl die Wachstumsrate der Küken niedriger war. Dies deutet darauf hin, dass die Pinguine den offensichtlichen Rückgang ihrer Hauptbeute ausgleichen konnten.

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Acknowledgments

This research was made possible through the support of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Financial support was provided by the Wildlife Conservation Society. We thank Jorge, Andrés and Alejandro Greco from Piratour for logistic support and transportation to the island. We are also grateful to volunteers of the Museo Acatushun de Aves y Mamíferos Asutrales and to Natalie Goodall. We thank Ricardo Saenz Samaniego, Mariano Diez, Marcela Liljesthröm, Natalia Paso Viola, Noelia Volpe, Guillermo Panisse, M. Florencia Colavita, Alfredo Barreto, Constanza Alberio, Natalia Dellabianca, N. Rosciano, Federico Tapella, Olga Florentín and M. Paula Sotelano for field or laboratory assistance, and Marcela Liljesthröm and Sabrina Harris for advice on language. We are grateful to the editor and two anonymous reviewers for providing useful suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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  1. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CADIC, CONICET, Bernardo Houssay #200, 9410, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    Gabriela Scioscia, Andrea Raya Rey & Adrián Schiavini

  2. Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, 10460, USA

    Adrián Schiavini

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  1. Gabriela Scioscia
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  2. Andrea Raya Rey
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  3. Adrián Schiavini
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Correspondence to Gabriela Scioscia.

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Communicated by C. Barbraud.

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Scioscia, G., Raya Rey, A. & Schiavini, A. Breeding biology of Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at the Beagle Channel: interannual variation and its relationship with foraging behaviour. J Ornithol 157, 773–785 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-016-1341-7

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