New records of South American sea lion Otaria flavescens predation on southern rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome at Staten Island, Argentina

• Published in: Polar Biology
• Main Authors: Raya Rey, Andrea Nélida, Saenz Samaniego, Ricardo Andres, Petracci, Pablo Fabricio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer
• Subjects: POPULATION THREATS; PREDATION; ROCKHOPPER PENGUIN; SOUTH AMERICAN SEA LION; STATEN ISLAND; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1; Argentina; Austral; Nélida; Pablo; Ricardo; Saenz; Polar Biology; Rockhopper penguin
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/94844

Predation by fur seals and sea lions has been identified, among others, as a potential cause of the declines in rockhopper penguin populations. Here, we report a multiple predation event of southern rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome by South American sub-adult male sea lions Otaria flavescens at Staten Island, Argentina. The sea lions attacked and preyed on penguins mostly using a wait and rush tactic at sea, but in some cases, penguins were also pursued on land. Although observations suggested that only a few sea lions are involved in predation, further research is necessary to elucidate the importance of this predation in the rate of population decline. Fil: Raya Rey, Andrea Nélida. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina Fil: Saenz Samaniego, Ricardo Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina Fil: Petracci, Pablo Fabricio. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Área Zoología; Argentina