The dispersal of regurgitated pumice gizzard-stones by the Southern Skua at Macquarie Island.

Abstract

Since June, 1963, considerable quantities of pumice flotsam have been washed up at Macquarie Island. The Southern Skua, Catharacta skua lonnbergi, has largely adopted pumice as a gizzard-stone, and also swallows pumice pebbles to digest attached goose barnacles, Lepas australis. Pumice subsequently regurgitated by Skuas has been dispersed widely over the island.