Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T14:23:48.321Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Chinstrap and macaroni penguin diet and demography at Nyrøysa, Bouvetøya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 November 2015

Corne Niemandt ,
Kit M. Kovacs ,
Christian Lydersen ,
Bruce M. Dyer ,
Kjell Isaksen ,
G.J. Greg Hofmeyr ,
Fridtjof Mehlum  and
P.J. Nico de Bruyn
Corne Niemandt
Affiliation:
Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa
Kit M. Kovacs*
Affiliation:
Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
Christian Lydersen
Affiliation:
Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway
Bruce M. Dyer
Affiliation:
Oceans & Coasts, Department of Environmental Affairs, Private Bag X2, Roggebaai 8012, South Africa
Kjell Isaksen
Affiliation:
Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway Present address:Vossegata 16 B, 0475 Oslo, Norway
G.J. Greg Hofmeyr
Affiliation:
Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa Present address:Port Elizabeth Museum at Bayworld, Humewood 6013, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Fridtjof Mehlum
Affiliation:
Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, 9296 Tromsø, Norway Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, 0318 Oslo, Norway
P.J. Nico de Bruyn
Affiliation:
Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa
*
*Corresponding author:Kit.Kovacs@npolar.no
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Knowledge regarding interactions between predators and their prey is fundamental for understanding underlying links between climate change and ecosystem responses, including predator demographics, in the Southern Ocean. This study reports data on reproductive performance, total population size and diet composition for macaroni and chinstrap penguins breeding at Nyrøysa on Bouvetøya during the summers of 1996–97, 1998–99, 2000–01 and 2007–08. The breeding populations of these two species at Nyrøysa decreased significantly over the study period, with an 80% decline for chinstraps and a 50% decline for macaroni penguins, despite relatively high levels of chick production. During this period macaroni penguins at this site ate a diverse diet, dominated by myctophid fish and two krill species, whereas chinstrap penguins were Antarctic krill specialists. The population changes are probably primarily due to the expanding Antarctic fur seal population, and also to landslides that are the result of increased melting on the island which have destroyed penguin breeding sites. Additional impacts from global warming of the ocean might also be playing a role and could exacerbate the decline in these penguin populations if krill and other prey are negatively impacted in the future in this region. The local chinstrap penguin population would probably be most heavily affected given its narrow feeding niche and small current population size.

Keywords

Antarctic fur sealsAntarctic krillclimate changeEudyptes chrysolophuspopulation trendsPygoscelis antarcticaSouthern Ocean
Type
Biological Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , April 2016 , pp. 91 - 100
Check for updates
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bakken, V. 1991. Fugle- og selundersøkelser på Bouvetøya i desember/januar 1989/90. Norsk Polarinstitutt, Meddelelser, 115, 1–30. [In Norwegian - Bird and seal investigations at Bouvet Island in December and January 1989/90].Google Scholar
Barbosa, A., Benzal, J., De Leon, A. & Moreno, J. 2012. Population decline of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica) on Deception Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica. Polar Biology, 35, 1453–1457.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Biuw, M., Krafft, B.A., Hofmeyr, G.J.G., Lydersen, C. & Kovacs, K.M. 2009. Time budgets and at-sea behaviour of lactating female fur seals Arctocephalus gazella at Bouvetøya. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 385, 271–284.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Biuw, M., Lydersen, C., De Bruyn, P.J.N., Arriola, A., Hofmeyr, G.G.J., Kritzinger, P. & Kovacs, K.M. 2010. Long-range migration of a chinstrap penguin from Bouvetøya to Montagu Island, South Sandwich Islands. Antarctic Science, 22, 157–162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blanchet, M.A., Biuw, M., Hofmeyr, G.J.G., De Bruyn, P.J.N., Lydersen, C. & Kovacs, K.M. 2013. At-sea behaviour of three krill predators breeding at Bouvetøya – Antarctic fur seals, macaroni penguins and chinstrap penguins. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 477, 285–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CCAMLR. 2007. CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Programme: standard methods. Hobart, TAS: CCAMLR.Google Scholar
Collins, M.A., Xavier, J.C., Johnston, N.M., North, A.W., Enderlein, P., Tarling, G.A., Waluda, C.M., Hawker, E.J. & Cunningham, N.J. 2008. Patterns in the distribution of myctophid fish in the northern Scotia Sea ecosystem. Polar Biology, 31, 837–851.Google Scholar
Crawford, R.J.M., Whittington, P.A., Upfold, L., Ryan, P.G., Petersen, S.L., Dyer, B.M. & Cooper, J. 2009. Recent trends in numbers of four species of penguins at the Prince Edward Islands. African Journal of Marine Science, 31, 419–426.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Croxall, J.P. & Prince, P.A. 1979. Antarctic seabird and seal monitoring studies. Polar Record, 19, 573–595.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deagle, B.E., Gales, N.J. & Hindell, M.A. 2008. Variability in foraging behaviour of chick-rearing macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus and its relation to diet. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 359, 295–309.Google Scholar
Deagle, B.E., Gales, N.J., Evans, K., Jarman, S.N., Robinson, S., Trebilco, R. & Hindell, M.A. 2007. Studying seabird diet through genetic analysis of faeces: a case study on macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus). PLoS ONE, 2, 10.1371/journal.pone.0000831.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duhamel, G., Koubbi, P. & Ravier, C. 2000. Day and night mesopelagic fish assemblages off the Kerguelen Islands (Southern Ocean). Polar Biology, 23, 106–112.Google Scholar
Flores, H., Atkinson, A., Kawaguchi, S., Krafft, B.A., Milinevsky, G., Nicol, S., Reis, C., Tarling, G.A., Verner, R., Rebolledo, E.B., Cirelli, V., Cuzin-Roudy, J., Fielding, S., Groeneveld, J.J., Haraldsson, M., Lombana, A., Marschoff, E., Meyer, B., Pakhomov, E.A, Rombolá, E., Schimdt, K., Siegel, V., Teschke, M., Tonkes, H., Toullec, J.Y., Trathan, P.N., Tremblay, N., van De Putte, A.P., van Franeker, J.A. & Werner, T. 2012. Impact of climate change on Antarctic krill. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 458, 1–19.Google Scholar
Forcada, J., Trathan, P.N., Reid, K., Murphy, E.J. & Croxall, J.P. 2006. Contrasting population changes in sympatric penguin species in association with climate warming. Global Change Biology, 12, 411–423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fraser, W.R. & Hofmann, E.E. 2003. A predator’s perspective on causal links between climate change, physical forcing and ecosystem response. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 265, 1–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Green, K., Williams, R. & Green, M.G. 1998. Foraging ecology and diving behaviour of macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus at Heard Island. Marine Ornithology, 26, 27–34.Google Scholar
Haftorn, S., Somme, L. & Gray, J.S. 1981. A census of penguins and seals on Bouvetøya. Norsk Polarinstitutt Skrifter, 175, 29–35.Google Scholar
Hofmeyr, G.J.G., Bester, M.N., Makhado, A.B. & Pistorius, P.A. 2006. Population changes in Subantarctic and Antarctic fur seals at Marion Island. South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 36, 55–68.Google Scholar
Hofmeyr, G.J.G., Bester, M.N., Kirkman, S.P., Lydersen, C. & Kovacs, K.M. 2010. Intraspecific differences in the diet of Antarctic fur seals at Nyrøysa, Bouvetøya. Polar Biology, 33, 1171–1178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hofmeyr, G.J.G., Krafft, B.A., Kirkman, S.P., Bester, M.N., Lydersen, C. & Kovacs, K.M. 2005. Population changes of Antarctic fur seals at Nyrøysa, Bouvetøya. Polar Biology, 28, 725–731.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hulley, P.A. 1990. Myctophidae. In Gon, O. & Heemstra, P.C., eds. Fishes of the Southern Ocean. Grahamstown, South Africa: J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, 146–178.Google Scholar
Iwami, T., Naganobu, M., Taki, K. & Kiyota, M. 2011. Annual changes in species composition and abundance of myctophid fish in the north of South Georgia (subarea 48.3), Antarctica, during austral winters from 2002 to 2008. CCAMLR Science, 18, 155–165.Google Scholar
Jansen, J.K., Boveng, P.L. & Bengtson, J.L. 1998. Foraging modes of chinstrap penguins: contrasts between day and night. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 65, 161–172.Google Scholar
Korczak-Abshire, M., Chwedorzewska, K.J., Wasowicz, P. & Bednarek, P.T. 2012. Genetic structure of declining chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) populations from South Shetland Islands (Antarctica). Polar Biology, 35, 1681–1689.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krafft, B., Hofmeyr, G.J.G., Keith, D., Harck, B.I.B. & Kovacs, K.M. 2002. Studies of seals and seabirds on Bouvetøya 2000/01 - field work and preliminary results. Norwegian Polar Institute Report Series, 120, 62–71.Google Scholar
Krafft, B., Melle, W., Knutsen, T., Bagøien, E., Broms, C., Ellerertsen, B. & Siegel, V. 2010. Distribution and demography of Antarctic krill in the Southeast Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean during the austral summer 2008. Polar Biology, 33, 957–968.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Makhado, A.B. 2009. Investigation of the impact of fur seals on the conservation status of seabirds at islands off South Africa and at the Prince Edward Islands. PhD thesis, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 225 pp.Google Scholar
Murphy, E.J., Watkins, J.L., Trathan, P.N., Reid, K., Meredith, M.P., Thorpe, S.E., Johnston, N.M., Clarke, A., Tarling, G.A., Collins, M.A., Forcada, J., Shreeve, R.S., Atkinson, A., Korb, R., Whitehouse, M.J., Ward, P., Rodhouse, P.G., Enderlein, P., Hirst, A.G., Martin, A.R., Hill, S.L., Staniland, I.J., Pond, D.W., Briggs, D.R., Cunningham, N.J. & Fleming, A.J. 2007. Spatial and temporal operation of the Scotia Sea ecosystem: a review of large-scale links in a krill centred food web. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, B362, 113–148.Google Scholar
R Core, Team. 2014. R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing, http://www.R-project.org.Google Scholar
Ratcliffe, N. & Trathan, P. 2012. A review of the diet and at-sea distribution of penguins. CCAMLR Science, 18, 75–114.Google Scholar
Reid, K., Davis, D. & Staniland, I.J. 2006. Spatial and temporal variability in the fish diet of Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 84, 1025–1037.Google Scholar
Rombolá, E., Marschoff, E. & Coria, N. 2010. Interannual variability in chinstrap penguin diet at South Shetland and South Orkneys islands. Polar Biology, 33, 799–806.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sander, M., Balbao, T.C., Polito, M.J., Costa, E.S. & Carneiro, A.P.B. 2007. Recent decrease in chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) populations at two of Admiralty Bay’s islets on King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Polar Biology, 30, 659–661.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trathan, P.N., Ratcliffe, N. & Masden, E.A. 2012. Ecological drivers of change at South Georgia: the krill surplus, or climate variability. Ecography, 35, 1–11.Google Scholar
Waluda, C.M., Hill, S.L., Peat, H.J. & Trathan, P.N. 2012. Diet variability and reproductive performance of macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus at Bird Island, South Georgia. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 466, 261–274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waluda, C.M., Collins, M.A., Black, A.D., Staniland, I.J. & Trathan, P.N. 2010. Linking predator and prey behaviour: contrasts between Antarctic fur seals and macaroni penguins at South Georgia. Marine Biology, 157, 99–112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, R.P. 1984. An improved stomach pump for penguins and other seabirds. Journal of Field Ornithology, 55, 109–112.Google Scholar