Foraging Behavior of Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins as Determined by New Radiotelemetry Techniques

Abstract Analysis of radio signals from transmitters affixed to 7 Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) and 6 Chinstrap (P. antarctica) penguins allowed us to track penguins at sea. Signal characteristics allowed us to distinguish among 5 foraging behaviors: porpoising, underwater swimming, horizontal diving, v...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Auk
Main Authors: Trivelpiece, Wayne Z., Bengtson, John L., Trivelpiece, Susan G., Volkman, Nicholas J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press (OUP) 1986
Subjects:
Animal Science and Zoology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Antarc*
Antarctica
Pygoscelis papua
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/103.4.777
http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/103/4/777/30081273/auk0777.pdf
Description
Summary:Abstract Analysis of radio signals from transmitters affixed to 7 Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) and 6 Chinstrap (P. antarctica) penguins allowed us to track penguins at sea. Signal characteristics allowed us to distinguish among 5 foraging behaviors: porpoising, underwater swimming, horizontal diving, vertical diving, and resting or bathing. Gentoo Penguins spent a significantly greater portion of their foraging trips engaged in feeding behaviors than Chinstraps, which spent significantly more time traveling. Gentoos had significantly longer feeding dives than Chinstraps (128 s vs. 91 s) and significantly higher dive-pause ratios (3.4 vs. 2.6). These differences in foraging behavior suggest Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins may have different diving abilities and may forage at different depths.

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