Diet and foraging distribution of gentoo penguins pygoscelis papua at Cow Bay, Falkland Islands

Knowledge of diet and distribution in marine top predators is critical in interpreting their ecological role. Furthermore, this information is required for effective management and conservation of these species. For gentoo penguins at the Falkland Islands a previous overlap in dietary items with commercial fisheries was recognised. Despite this the at-sea distribution has been poorly studied and only at a few localities. Therefore, this thesis looks to broaden the knowledge of foraging ecology for gentoo penguins at another site in the archipelago, Cow Bay. The aim was firstly, through stomach content analysis, to determine if diet changed over a large temporal scale (2002/03/04 – 2011/12/13), and between the chick guard and crèche periods of chick rearing. Secondly, through GPS loggers, to assess distribution at sea during the incubation and chick guard periods (2012/13). Additionally, foraging ecology between genders was investigated. Gentoo penguins at Cow Bay foraged primarily on fish (66-99 percent) throughout the entire study period. The principle prey item by mass was Patagonotothen spp., considered previously as discard by fisheries but now an important commercial resource, for all periods (47-78 percent) except that of the 2012/13 crèche period (19 percent). During this period Sprattus fugensis made up the bulk of the diet (52 percent). Cephalopods, particularly Loligo gahi (1-24 percent), were also prominent in the diet and crustaceans contributed negligibly. The diet indicated that gentoo penguins are capable of both a benthic and pelagic feeding strategy which likely reflects changes in local prey abundance. Birds typically conducted foraging activities during daylight hours with greater trip duration, path length, maximum distance and area utilised during the incubation period than the guard. All trips were confined to the continental shelf and within the boundaries of a marine management zone, the Falkland Islands Interim Conservation Zone (FICZ). Males and females fed on the same size and composition of prey items. Trip duration, path length and maximum distance from the colony were not significantly different, although males foraged in a slightly larger area than females marginally to the north. As at-sea distribution was confined within the FICZ this management area provides protection to food resources of gentoo penguins breeding at Cow Bay. At this site, the population is increasing, likely associated with increased prey availability as evidenced by record catches of Patagonotothen spp. in recent years at the Falkland Islands. Continued long term monitoring of gentoo penguin diet and fishery yields to allow detection of possible competition in the future is recommended. As marine sentinels, on-going monitoring of gentoo penguin populations at the Falkland Islands is likely to provide early warning signs of reduced prey availability