Summer diet of the Salvin’s prion at sub-Antarctic Marion Island

• Published in: South African Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Gartshore, N.A., Steele, W.K., Klages, N.T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Bureau for Scientific Publ. 1988
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarc*; Marion Island; Prince Edward Islands; Copepods
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/36635/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/36635/7/2143.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1080/02541858.1988.11448118

Thirty-nine food samples were collected from Salvin’s prions Pachyptila salvini at sub-Antarctic Marion Island, Prince Edward Islands. The diet was dominated by crustaceans which formed 44,2% of the mass, 99,7% of prey items and occurred in 97,4% of the samples. Amphipods were of particular importance, the most abundant species being Themisto gaudichaudii. There was a marked absence of copepods which are an important element in the diets of both the dove P. desolata and broad-billed prions P. vittata. Prey included fish (41,9% by mass) and cephalopods. The results are compared with published data for dove, Salvin’s and broad-billed prions collected at other islands, and with data from Marion Island for blue petrels Halobaena caerulea. Nege-en-dertig voedselmonsters is van mediumbekwalvisvoels Pachyptila salvini by sub-Antarktiese Marioneiland, Prince Edward-Eilande, versamel. Die dieet is deur skulpdiere oorheers, wat 44,2% van die massa en 99,7% van die prooi-items gevorm het en met ’n frekwensie van 97,4% voorgekom het. Amphipoda was van besondere belang, met Themisto gaudichaudii die belangrikste soort. Daar was ’n merkbare afwesigheid van Copepoda, wat ’n belangrike element in die dieet van duifwalvisvoels P. desolata en breebekwalvisvoels P. vittata is. Prooi-items het vis (41,9% volgens massa) en koppotiges ingesluit. Die resultate word met gepubliseerde data vir duifwalvisvoels, mediumbekwalvisvoels en breebekwalvisvoels wat by ander eilande versamel is, vergelyk asook met data van bloustormvoels Halobaena caerulea wat by Marioneiland versamel is.