Summary
Pellets regurgitated by south polar skuas at Hop Island, in the Rauer Group, East Antarctica, Princess Elizabeth Land were collected and analysed. Individual collections were grouped in relation to the nearest breeding colony of seabirds, but irrespective of their source the frequencies of occurrence of the food items identified in pellets indicated that Adélie penguins were of varying, but major (29%–72%), importance to skuas inhabiting the Island. Though the incidence of Antarctic petrel remains (from adult or chick) was generally low in pellets (<7%), the occurrence of remains of southern fulmars was high (>27%) at all sites near the fulmar breeding colonies. Fish remains, and beaks of cephalopods, were present in few pellets. Whilst indicating the range of foods eaten on Hop Island, and perhaps their relative importance, it is considered that the pellets by themselves do not reflect accurately the level of predation of eggs of Antarctic petrels and southern fulmars, nor do the pellets necessarily include the remains of young of these species.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cowan AN (1979) Ornithological studies at Casey, 1977–1978. Aust Bird Watcher 8:69–90
Cramp S, Simmons KEL (1983) Handbook of the birds of Europe the Middle East and North Africa, vol 3. Oxford University Press, New York
Green K (1986) Observations on the food of the south polar skua, Catharacta maccormicki near Davis, Antarctica. Polar Biol 6:185–186
Green K, Johnstone GW (1986) Breeding distribution and abundance of surface-nesting petrels in the Rauer Islands, East Antarctica. ANARE Res Notes 35
Johnstone GW, Lugg DJ, Brown DA (1973) The biology of the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica. ANARE Sci Rep B(1) Publ 123
Müller-Schwarze D, Müller-Schwarze C (1977) Interactions between south polar skuas and Adélie penguins. In: Llano GA (ed) Adaptations within Antarctic ecosystems. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, pp 619–646
Pietz PJ (1987) Feeding and nesting ecology of sympatric south polar and brown skuas. Auk 104:617–627
Pryor ME (1968) The avifauna of Haswell Island, Antarctica. In: Austin OL (ed) Antarctic bird studies. Antarctic Research Series, vol 12. Am Geophys Union, Washington, pp 57–82
Spellerberg IF (1971) Aspects of McCormick skua breeding biology. Ibis Antarctic bird studies. Antarctic Research Series, 113:357–365
Trost RE (1981) Dynamics of grit selection and retention in captive mallards. J Wildl Manage 45:64–73
Young EC (1963) Feeding habits of the south polar skua Catharacta maccormicki. Ibis J Wildl Manage 105:301–318
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Norman, F.I., Ward, S.J. Foods of the south polar skua at Hop Island, Rauer Group, East Antarctica. Polar Biol 10, 489–493 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233696
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233696