Evidence of food items used by Fulmarus glacialoides (Smith 1840) (Procellariiformes: Procellariidae) in Southern Brazil

Monitoring trips were conducted along the coast of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil from July 1997 to July 1998 to contribute toward knowledge on the feeding habits of Fulmarus glacialoides during migration. Five hundred and sixty two carcasses of F. glacialoides were found, 42 of which were in adequate conditions for collection and subsequent stomach content analysis. All stomach revealed the remains of cephalopods. The following were identified from the 60 lower beaks of cephalopods found: Sepidae, Histioteuthis sp., Discoteuthis sp., Chiroteuthis sp., Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, Lycoteuthis sp., Lycoteuthis lorigera, Ancistrocheirus lesueuri, Alluroteuthis antarctica, Loligo plei and Argonauta nodosa. Histioteuthis sp. was found in 70% of stomachs analyzed, with a mean biomass of 53 g. Fish were identified through otoliths and were found in the stomach contents of two specimens. Elytra from insects were found in the contents of eight stomachs, at least 20 of which were coleopterans. A Belostomatidae was found in the contents of one stomach.