AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

THE DIET AND IMPLICATIONS OF DIETARY CHANGE OF CAPE GANNETS ON BIRD ISLAND, ALGOA BAY

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1984
Authors:Batchelor, AL, Ross, GJB
Journal:Ostrich
Volume:55
Issue:2
Date Published:1984
ISBN Number:0030-6525
Keywords:Africa, Morus, Morus bassanus, Morus capensis, South Africa, Struthio, Struthio camelus, Struthionidae, Sula, Sula capensis, Sulidae
Abstract:Summary Batchelor, A. L. & Ross, G. J. B. 1984. The diet and implications of dietary change of Cape Gannets on Bird Island, Algoa Bay. Ostrich 55:45-63. The diet of the Cape Gannet Sula capensis breeding on Bird Island, Algoa Bay, South Africa, was investigated. Approximately 2000 regurgitations representing 13300 prey items were examined. Twenty-three teleost and two cephalopod species were recorded in the diet. More than 90 % of the numerical composition consisted of the three species Pilchard Sardinops ocellata, Anchovy Engraulis capensis and Saury Scomberesox saurus. The proportions of these three species in the diet changed during the sampling periods. These changes were not related to the implied migration patterns of these species. Chick growth rates were investigated in conjunction with the dietary study. These results indicated that Cape Gannet chicks on a diet of Pilchard and/or Anchovy were more likely to fledge successfully than those on a diet of Stockfish Merluccius capensis or Saury. These observations were based on differences in growth rate, and peak and fledgling mass, The data suggest that Pilchard is a preferred prey species and its presence or absence in regurgitationsMayreflect a similar situation on the feeding grounds. The observed increase in the Bird Island gannet populationMaybe related to the availability of high-quality food and consequent reduced pre-breeding mortality. In the absence of historical dietary data, further detailed population dynamics studies are required to support this supposition.Summary Batchelor, A. L. & Ross, G. J. B. 1984. The diet and implications of dietary change of Cape Gannets on Bird Island, Algoa Bay. Ostrich 55:45-63. The diet of the Cape Gannet Sula capensis breeding on Bird Island, Algoa Bay, South Africa, was investigated. Approximately 2000 regurgitations representing 13300 prey items were examined. Twenty-three teleost and two cephalopod species were recorded in the diet. More than 90 % of the numerical composition consisted of the three species Pilchard Sardinops ocellata, Anchovy Engraulis capensis and Saury Scomberesox saurus. The proportions of these three species in the diet changed during the sampling periods. These changes were not related to the implied migration patterns of these species. Chick growth rates were investigated in conjunction with the dietary study. These results indicated that Cape Gannet chicks on a diet of Pilchard and/or Anchovy were more likely to fledge successfully than those on a diet of Stockfish Merluccius capensis or Saury. These observations were based on differences in growth rate, and peak and fledgling mass, The data suggest that Pilchard is a preferred prey species and its presence or absence in regurgitationsMayreflect a similar situation on the feeding grounds. The observed increase in the Bird Island gannet populationMaybe related to the availability of high-quality food and consequent reduced pre-breeding mortality. In the absence of historical dietary data, further detailed population dynamics studies are required to support this supposition.
URL:http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00306525.1984.9634757
Short Title:Ostrich
Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith