Combining a geographic information system, known dietary, foraging and habitat preferences, and stable isotope analysis to infer the diet of Magellanic Penguins in their austral distribution
Javier Ciancio A D , Florencia Botto B and Esteban Frere C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A CENPAT Centro Nacional Patagónico, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Blvd. Brown 2915 Puerto Madryn CP 9120, Chubut, Argentina.
B Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Universidad de Mar del Plata and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) 3er Piso, Funes 3250 (B7600WAG), Mar del Plata, Argentina.
C Centro de Investigaciones Puerto Deseado, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral, CONICET, Avenida Prefectura s/n, cc 238, 9050, Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz, Argentina.
D Corresponding author. Email: ciancio@cenpat.edu.ar
Emu 115(3) 237-246 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU14032
Submitted: 6 December 2013 Accepted: 31 July 2014 Published: 6 May 2015
Abstract
The Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) is the most abundant and widely distributed top marine predator of Atlantic Ocean waters off the Patagonian coast. During the breeding season, this species consumes thousands of tonnes of its prey and has a significant effect on populations of fish and squid near the Penguin’s breeding colonies. We combined data on stomach contents, known habitat preferences of their prey, stable isotope analysis and a geographic information system to describe the diet of Magellanic Penguins in their austral distribution. On this basis, we present a comprehensive analysis of the trophic ecology of the species, the diet of which is poorly known (only a few analyses of stomach contents). Stable isotopes revealed a mean trophic level of 5.3 (range 4.5–5.8) and a diet in accordance with spatio-temporal overlap analysis. This study shows that Magellanic Penguins forage on few prey species not targeted by commercial fisheries in this region, mostly Patagonian Sprat and Longfin Squid. Moreover, we demonstrated that a combination of complementary tools can be used to describe the trophic relationships of wide-ranging marine predators, such as seabirds.
Additional keywords: prey distribution, Spheniscus magellanicus.
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