Reappraisal of the Trophic Ecology of One of the World's Most Threatened Spheniscids, the African Penguin.

ABSTRACT: Many species of seabirds, including the only penguin species breeding on the African continent, are threatened with extinction. The world population of the endangered African penguin Spheniscus demersus has decreased from more than 1.5 million individuals in the early 1900s to c.a. 23 000 pairs in 2013. Determining the trophic interactions of species, especially those of conservation concern, is important when declining numbers are thought to be driven by food limitation. By and large, African penguin dietary studies have relied on the identification of prey remains from stomach contents. Despite all the advantages of this method, it has well known biases. We therefore assessed the African penguin's diet, using stable isotopes, at two colonies in Algoa Bay (south-east coast of South Africa

SUBMITTER: Connan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4951110 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature