Surface-feeding on cephalopods by procellariiform seabirds in the southern Benguela region, South Africa

• Published in: Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Lipinski, M.R., Jackson, Sue
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press 1989
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarc*; Marion Island
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/50654/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/50654/1/2974.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1989.tb04998.x

Cephalopod beaks recovered from stomach samples taken from l 4 sea bird species in the southern Benguela region off Southern Africa and from one species at Sub-Antarctic Marion Island, were identified as far as possible, counted and the lower rostral lengths (LRLs) measured. Dorsal mantle lengths (DMLs) and body masses of the cephalopods eaten were estimated. The results of analyses by percentage frequency of occurrence and numerical abundance are discussed with reference to present knowledge of the distribution of cephalopods eaten by sea birds in the areas studied. Division of the cephalopod component of seabird diets into species which float, and species which sink, after death indicates that the birds forage on dead or moribund cephalopods on the surface, rather than catching live bioluminescent cephalopods at night.