Diet and estimated food consumption of Antarctic fur seals at Bouvetøya during summer

Abstract

Collection and analysis of natural regurgitations and fresh scats, deposited by Antarctic fur seals at the Nyrøysa colony, Bouvetøya, during December 1998 to February 1999, afforded a comprehensive description of the dietary composition of this expanding population during the summer months. Mature, adult Euphausia superba was the staple diet of fur seals at Nyrøysa, while squid and myctophid fish appeared to be taken opportunistically. In metric tons, the total Bouvetøya fur seal population is estimated to have consumed a minimum of 14,365 t krill (representing 1.2713 × 10¹⁰ individuals of 1.13 g mass), 186 t fish, 184 t squid and 14,735 t over 3 months, but there are many possible sources of error in these estimates. It is presumed that over-indulgence in krill may cause animals to regurgitate ashore.