Avian predation at a Southern Rockhopper Penguin colony on Staten Island,Argentina |
| |
Authors: | Marcela Liljesthröm Steven D Emslie Dargan Frierson Adrián Schiavini |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA;(2) Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA;(3) Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina |
| |
Abstract: | We studied predation risk in relation to nest location and subcolony size in Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) during the chick-rearing period. Striated Caracaras (Phalcoboenus australis), the main predator, preferentially attacked from tussock grasses which are found in the periphery of all subcolonies (peripheral
tussocks) and often scattered within them (central tussocks). The greatest numbers of predation and attempted predation events
were observed on nests in the periphery of the subcolony next to peripheral tussocks, and on those nests next to central tussocks.
Central tussocks offer Striated Caracaras an additional “edge” area from which to prey, much in the same way as do the peripheral
tussocks. Predation rate per individual was not correlated with subcolony size possibly due to the presence of central tussocks
which, by creating an extra edge area, change the subcolony shape. There is a suggestion (P = 0.06) of increased probability of nest success with subcolony size. |
| |
Keywords: | Avian predation Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome Phalcoboenus australis Southern Rockhopper Penguin Striated Caracara Nest location |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|