Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 29 (1985 - 1986)
The diet of penguins on King George Island, South Shetland Islands
Abstract:
Young Gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua and Chinstrap penguins P. antarctica received food twice a day and Adélie penguins P. adeliae once. The basic food of chicks consisted of krill and that of adult birds of krill and fish. In periods when Euphausia was not easily available some differences appeared in food composition between sympatric species of the genus Pygoscelis. They resulted not only from the morhpo-ecological predispositions of the birds but also from the different feeding grounds and circadian rhythms. The feeding areas of Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins were mostly situated at a distance of 5-15 km and those of Adélie penguins up to 40 km from the colony. The average weight of the daily food ration of adults was: Gentoos — 750-850 g, Chinstraps — 450-550 g, Adélies — 550-650 g and Macaronis — 650-750 g. Young Gentoos received 55-1050 g of food in various periods of growth, Adélies 48-608 g and Chinstraps 43-764 g. An indirect influence of food on the survival of chicks was exerted by the selective pressure of Stercorarius skua lonnbergi in relation to the chicks of lower body weights.
