Ecological sexual dimorphism and environmental variability within a community of antarctic penguins (Genus Pygoscelis).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sexual segregation in vertebrate foraging niche is often associated with sexual size dimorphism (SSD), i.e., ecological sexual dimorphism. Although foraging behavior of male and female seabirds can vary markedly, differences in isotopic (carbon, δ13C and nitrogen, δ15N) foraging niche are generally more pronounced within sexually dimorphic species and during phases when competition for food is greater. We examined ecological sexual dimorphism among sympatric nesting Pygoscelis penguins asking whether environmental variability is associated with differences in male and female pre-breeding foraging niche. We predicted that all Pygoscelis species would forage sex-specifically, and that higher quality winter habitat, i.e., higher or lower sea ice coverage for a given species

SUBMITTER: Gorman KB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3943793 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature