Influence of parental body size on sea-to-nest distances and food provisioning in Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor)

Abstract

Field studies were conducted to investigate whether parental body size was related to the distance between a nest and the sea, and chick food provisioning in Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor). The nests of large males were more commonly found at low to middle elevations, possibly because these are better breeding sites (there was no relationship between female body size and nest-site location). Males carried larger amounts of food to chicks than did females. No difference in meal size delivered to chicks was found between large and small males, or large and small females. However, chicks of large males grew more quickly than those of small ones; female body size did not correlate with chick growth rate. A previous study of this species has shown that larger males mated earlier in the season than smaller ones, suggesting that females prefer large males. By selecting large males, females may improve their own reproductive potential by obtaining superior nest sites and better providers for their young.