Abstract
Meal size of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica) was estimated through weighing adult breeders before and after food transfer during the crèche phase. Mean meal size delivered by each parent was 630.2 ± 178.3 g and was independent of breeding date, number of chicks and sex. Only body size as estimated by flipper length had a significant effect on meal size, suggesting an advantage of large body size which allows maximization of food carried per visit.
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Received: 22 September 1997 / Accepted: 16 December 1997
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de León, A., Fargallo, J. & Moreno, J. Parental body size affects meal size in the chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica). Polar Biol 19, 358–360 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000050259
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000050259