The foraging range of Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) during winter
C. McCutcheon A , P. Dann B , M. Salton B , L. Renwick B , A. J. Hoskins A , A. M. Gormley C and J. P. Y. Arnould A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
B Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, PO Box 97, Cowes, VIC 3922, Australia.
C Arthur Rylah Institute, Department of Sustainability and Environment, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: john.arnould@deakin.edu.au
Emu 111(4) 321-329 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU10078
Submitted: 17 October 2010 Accepted: 5 April 2011 Published: 13 October 2011
Abstract
Although the movements of seabirds at sea during various stages of breeding in spring and summer have been the focus of many studies in recent years, there is still little known about the non-breeding period for most species. Satellite telemetry was used to determine the at-sea movements and foraging range of 47 Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) from Phillip Island, south-eastern Australia, during the winter non-breeding period. Individuals conducting single-day trips (72% of individuals) typically foraged 8–14 km from the colony, whereas individuals conducting longer trips (28%; 2–49 days) foraged either within Port Phillip Bay or in the coastal waters of western Bass Strait at maximum distances of 62–147 km from the colony. Although there was no difference between sexes in duration of foraging trips, the overall foraging range of males (841 km2) was substantially smaller than that of females (1983 km2) across all months, and showed an overlap of only 34%. Our results show that the foraging range of Little Penguins in the non-breeding period is greater than that observed during the summer breeding period, which suggest a reduction in local food abundance in winter and highlights the importance of foraging areas distant to the colony during a time of increased energetic costs and higher mortality.
Additional keywords: Australia, Bass Strait, non-breeding, Spheniscidae.
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