Diet and long-term changes in population size and productivity of brown skuas Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi at Bird Island, South Georgia
Breeding ecology of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) was studied at Bird Island, South Georgia in the austral summers of 2000/2001-2003/2004. A complete census recorded 467 breeding pairs in 3.55 km(2) of suitable habitat (132 pairs per km(2)), and an additional 312 nonbreeders at club-...
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:12340 2023-05-15T13:45:11+02:00 Diet and long-term changes in population size and productivity of brown skuas Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi at Bird Island, South Georgia Phillips, R.A. Phalan, B. Forster, I.P. 2004 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12340/ http://www.springerlink.com/content/4g1gjpnyel3lkfvm/fulltext.html unknown Springer Phillips, R.A.; Phalan, B.; Forster, I.P. 2004 Diet and long-term changes in population size and productivity of brown skuas Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi at Bird Island, South Georgia. Polar Biology, 27 (9). 555-561. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0633-1 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0633-1> Zoology Ecology and Environment Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2004 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0633-1 2023-02-04T19:27:55Z Breeding ecology of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) was studied at Bird Island, South Georgia in the austral summers of 2000/2001-2003/2004. A complete census recorded 467 breeding pairs in 3.55 km(2) of suitable habitat (132 pairs per km(2)), and an additional 312 nonbreeders at club-sites. Comparison with previous counts indicates two phases of population change: an initial rapid increase (3.6% per annum) from the late 1950s to early 1980s, probably attributable to increased carrion availability from the expanding Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) population, followed by slower growth (0.9% p.a.). Currently, seal carrion dominates the diet of skuas during incubation, with a switch to seabird prey during chick-rearing. Breeding is now later, chick growth poorer, and productivity significantly lower than in the early 1980s. There is also a strong seasonal decline in adult attendance, and chicks that hatch later and are in poorer condition are less likely to fledge. These results suggest a long-term increase in competition for carrion that is particularly apparent once fur seal pupping has ceased. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Fur Seal Antarctica Arctocephalus gazella Bird Island Polar Biology Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Antarctic Austral Bird Island ENVELOPE(-38.060,-38.060,-54.004,-54.004) Polar Biology 27 9 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Zoology Ecology and Environment |
spellingShingle |
Zoology Ecology and Environment Phillips, R.A. Phalan, B. Forster, I.P. Diet and long-term changes in population size and productivity of brown skuas Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi at Bird Island, South Georgia |
topic_facet |
Zoology Ecology and Environment |
description |
Breeding ecology of brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) was studied at Bird Island, South Georgia in the austral summers of 2000/2001-2003/2004. A complete census recorded 467 breeding pairs in 3.55 km(2) of suitable habitat (132 pairs per km(2)), and an additional 312 nonbreeders at club-sites. Comparison with previous counts indicates two phases of population change: an initial rapid increase (3.6% per annum) from the late 1950s to early 1980s, probably attributable to increased carrion availability from the expanding Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) population, followed by slower growth (0.9% p.a.). Currently, seal carrion dominates the diet of skuas during incubation, with a switch to seabird prey during chick-rearing. Breeding is now later, chick growth poorer, and productivity significantly lower than in the early 1980s. There is also a strong seasonal decline in adult attendance, and chicks that hatch later and are in poorer condition are less likely to fledge. These results suggest a long-term increase in competition for carrion that is particularly apparent once fur seal pupping has ceased. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Phillips, R.A. Phalan, B. Forster, I.P. |
author_facet |
Phillips, R.A. Phalan, B. Forster, I.P. |
author_sort |
Phillips, R.A. |
title |
Diet and long-term changes in population size and productivity of brown skuas Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi at Bird Island, South Georgia |
title_short |
Diet and long-term changes in population size and productivity of brown skuas Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi at Bird Island, South Georgia |
title_full |
Diet and long-term changes in population size and productivity of brown skuas Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi at Bird Island, South Georgia |
title_fullStr |
Diet and long-term changes in population size and productivity of brown skuas Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi at Bird Island, South Georgia |
title_full_unstemmed |
Diet and long-term changes in population size and productivity of brown skuas Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi at Bird Island, South Georgia |
title_sort |
diet and long-term changes in population size and productivity of brown skuas catharacta antarctica lonnbergi at bird island, south georgia |
publisher |
Springer |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12340/ http://www.springerlink.com/content/4g1gjpnyel3lkfvm/fulltext.html |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-38.060,-38.060,-54.004,-54.004) |
geographic |
Antarctic Austral Bird Island |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Austral Bird Island |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Fur Seal Antarctica Arctocephalus gazella Bird Island Polar Biology |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Fur Seal Antarctica Arctocephalus gazella Bird Island Polar Biology |
op_relation |
Phillips, R.A.; Phalan, B.; Forster, I.P. 2004 Diet and long-term changes in population size and productivity of brown skuas Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi at Bird Island, South Georgia. Polar Biology, 27 (9). 555-561. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0633-1 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0633-1> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-004-0633-1 |
container_title |
Polar Biology |
container_volume |
27 |
container_issue |
9 |
_version_ |
1766215048385003520 |