New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
*Author for correspondence.
Z00024Received and
accepted 17 July 2000
Interannual variations in the diet of breeding sooty shearwaters (Puffinus
griseus)
J. C. KITSON*
J. B. CRUZ
Department of Zoology
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
email: jane.kitson@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
C. LALAS
P.O. Box 31
Portobello
Dunedin, New Zealand
J. B. JILLETT
Department of Marine Science
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
J. NEWMAN
P. O'B. LYVER
Department of Zoology
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand
Abstract Diet samples from sooty shearwaters (
Puffinus
griseus) were collected during the breeding season at Poutama (Evening)
Island (1994 & 1995) and Putauhinu (Hidden) Island (1996-1998), southern
New Zealand. Regurgitate samples and whole guts were obtained from chicks
harvested by Rakiura Mäori muttonbirders. The relative proportions of six
major prey categories (decapod, fish, squid, euphausiid, salp and amphipod)
varied markedly between years and/or islands. Many more decapods were eaten in
1994 than 1995 (regurgitates). More euphausiids, amphipods and squid were eaten
in 1997 than in 1998 (stomachs). The number of regurgitates with identifiable
prey remains was significantly higher in 1998 than 1997. Many of the
differences in diet between Poutama and Putauhinu probably reflected
interannual diet variation rather than site-specific differences, because the
two nearby islands were sampled in different years. Interannual variation in
diet may correlate with fluctuations in adult survival and breeding success
that strongly influence sooty shearwater population dynamics.
Keywords Sooty shearwaters; Puffinus griseus; New
Zealand; mictophids; decapods; cephalopods; amphipods; salps; euphausiids
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2000, Vol. 27: 357-365
0301-4223/00/2704-0357 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New
Zealand 2000
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1372K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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