High predation rates by pumas on Magellanic Penguin adults: new conflicts in coastal protected areas in Argentina

FRERE, E., MILLONES, A., MORGENTHALER, A., TRAVAINI, A. Y GANDINI, P.

Victoria

Congreso; 1° World seabird conference. Seabirds: Linking the Global Oceans.; 2010

Avian predation on Magellanic penguin along the Argentinean coast was historically reported. However, carnivore predators never represented an important mortality factor. Monte Leon National Park was created in 2004, where ovine cattle were excluded. Since 2004 we monitored its colony and from 2007 we are evaluating carnivore predation impact on adult penguins on six 2500 m2 plots along the colony, where number of breeding pairs, adults predated, sex, timing, and location of carcasses were recorded. Predator species was identified by carcass necropsy. We have also installed four camera traps to identify and quantify responsible individuals. High levels of mortality were detected from 2006; over 95% of the adults were predated by pumas.Most penguin carcasses were actually not consumed.At the studied plots, between 2007 and 2008 nest density decreased by 47%. The highest predation rates were observed in two plots located at the periphery and near to ravines. During 2007, 15% and 5% of the breeding adults were predated at those plots and the same figures, during 2008, were 36% and 19%. Our preliminary estimation showed that more than 1500 adults are killed each year. Preliminary camera analyses identified an adult puma with three young as the former predators. Removal of those individuals seems the better option as a management tool, in order to stop the decrease (16%) of the penguin colony observed during the last years.