Cephalopods in the diets of Emperor and Adelie penguins in Adelie Land, Antarctica

• Published in: Marine Biology
• Main Authors: Offredo, C., Ridoux, V., Clarke, M. R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 1985
• Subjects: Hombron; Jacquinot; Adelie Land; Antarc*; Antarctica; antarcticus; Aptenodytes forsteri; Emperor penguins; Pygoscelis adeliae
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/53921/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/53921/1/4382.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399027

Cephalopod remains were collected from all of 12 dead Emperor penguin chicks [Aptenodytes forsteri (Gray)], from 76% of 29 living adult Emperor penguins, and from 18% of 105 living adult Adelie penguins [Pygoscelis adeliae (Hombron & Jacquinot)] from Adelie Land, Antarctica, in 1982. Of the seven species of squids represented by lower beaks, Psychroteuthis glacialis comprised 88% of the number in both Emperor chicks and Emperor adults and 100% in Adelie adults. From estimates of the weight of squids represented by lower beaks, Gonatus antarcticus and Kondakovia longimana contributed 18 and 14%, respectively, of the weight of squids in the diet of Emperor chicks and 27 and 21%, respectively, in the diet of Emperor adults. The data suggest that Psychroteuthis glacialis probably hatch in July–September and grow steadily for one year, and then spawn and die.