INVESTIGADORES
CASAUX Ricardo Jorge
artículos
Título:
Geographical variation in the diet of the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella
Autor/es:
CASAUX RICARDO; BARONI ANDREA; ARRIGHETTI F.; RAMÓN ANALÍA; CARLINI ALEJANDRO
Revista:
POLAR BIOLOGY
Referencias:
Año: 2003 vol. 26 p. 753 - 758
ISSN:
0722-4060
Resumen:
Abstract
The diet of non-breeding male Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella was investigated
at different localities of the Antarctic Peninsula (Cierva Point and Hope Bay),
South Shetland Islands (Deception Island and Potter Peninsula) and South Orkney
Islands (Laurie Island), by the analysis of 438 scats collected from January to
March 2000. The composition of the diet was diverse and both, pelagic and
benthic-demersal preys were represented in the samples. The Antarctic krill Euphausia superba was the most frequent
(except at Cierva Point) and numerous preyat all the study sites, being followed by fish, penguins and cephalopods.
The Antarctic krill also predominated by mass being followed by fish or
penguins. Fish were the second most important prey by mass at the Antarctic
Peninsula whereas penguins were second most important prey by mass at the South
Shetland and South Orkney islands. Among fish, Pleuragramma antarcticum was the species that most contributed to
the diet of the Antarctic fur seals at the Antarctic Peninsula whereas Gymnoscopelus nicholsi predominated at the South Shetland and South
Orkney islands. The results are
compared with previous studies and the possibility of implement monitoring
studies on the distribution/abundance of Myctophids and P. antarcticum based in the analysis of the diet of the Antarctic
fur seal is considered.