The diet of the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddelli at Harmony Point, South Shetland Islands

A total of 41 faeces and 5 vomits of the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddelli was collected at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands, from 14 January to 1 February 1996. The diet indicated by the remains in the samples was diverse and comprised both pelagic and benthic-demersal species. Fish were the most frequent (95.7%) and numerous prey (46.2%), but molluscs were the most important by mass (65.8%). Octopods, mainly Pareledone charcoti, constituted the bulk of the diet (63.1% by mass), but the importance of the remaining molluscs was negligible. Otoliths represented 510 fish of which 491 were identified as belonging to 5 species: Gymnoscopelus nicholsi, Electrona antarctica, Lepidonotothen nudifrons, Gobionotothen gibberifrons and Nototheniops nybelini. The myctophid Gymnoscopelus nicholsi was the most important fish prey, and the contribution of benthic-demersal species was low. However, the importance of that fish was over-estimated since 96% of the specimens were obtained from the five vomits analysed. The biases associated with the faecal analysis technique are discussed

The diet of the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands

The diet of non-breeding male Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) was investigated at Harmony Point, Nelson Island, South Shetland Islands, by the analysis of 18 and 33 scats collected during February 1996 and 1997 respectively. Overall, fish were the most frequent prey (74.5%) and predominated by mass (54.4%), whereas krill predominated by number (94.2%). This coincides well with the pattern observed in 1997, but in 1996 krill was the most important prey by number and mass (50.2%). The importance of the remaining taxa represented in the samples (octopods, hyperiids and bivalves) was negligible. Among fish, myctophids represented 85.2% of the fish mass, with Gymnoscopelus nicholsi and Electrona antarctica being the main prey. These two species predominated in 1997, whereas the channichthyid Cryodraco antarcticus and the nototheniid Gobionotothen gibberifrons were dominant in 1996. The importance of the myctophids as prey of the Antarctic fur seal is discussed

Diet of Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella at the Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula

The diet of non-breeding male Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella, was investigated at the Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula, by the analysis of 31 and 149 scats collected from January to March 1998 and 2000, respectively. Overall, fish and krill, followed by penguins and squids, were the most frequent prey and constituted the bulk of the diet. The importance of the remaining taxa represented in the samples (octopods, gastropods, bivalves, isopods, polychaetes and poriferans) was negligible. Among fish, channichthyids constituted the bulk of the diet, with Chionodraco rastrospinosus and Chaenodraco wilsoni, followed by the nototheniid, Pleuragramma antarcticum, being the main prey. The myctophid, Electrona antarctica, was the most frequent and numerous fish prey. The results are discussed and compared with those reported for the South Shetland Islands, the closest area for which similar information is available

Lanternfish (Myctophidae) in the diet of the Cape petrel Daption capense at the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands, Antarctica

All of the fish identified in stomach contents and regurgitations of breeding and chick Cape petrels collected during January and February 1996 at Fildes Peninsula and Harmony Point, both in the South Shetland Islands and at Laurie Island, South Orkney Islands, were myctophids, a family never previously reported in the diet of breeding Cape petrels. Electrona antarctica was the most important fish prey, followed by Electrona carlsbergi at Fildes Peninsula, Krefftichthys anderssoni at Harmony Point and Gymnoscopelus braueri at Laurie Island. The absence of Pleuragramma antarcticum in the diet of this petrel, which is considered a P. antarcticum-feeder, is discussed