The Breeding Biologies of the Sooty Albatrosses Phoebetria Fusca and P. Palpebrata

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
SUMMARYBerruti, A. 1979. The breeding biologies of the sooty albatrosses Phoebetria fusca and P. palpebrata. Emu 79: 161–175.The breeding biologies of the Sooty Albatross Phoebetria fusca and the Light-mantled Sooty Albatross P. palpebrata were studied at Marion Island (46°54'S, 37°45'E), Prince Edward group of islands, one of only two (possibly three) groups where they breed sympatrically. Phoebetria fusca is far more abundant than P. palpebrata at Marion Island.The breeding biologies of the two species were similar; the pre-egg, egg and nestling periods of the breeding cycle are compared. There is an overlap in selection of nest sites but interspecific competition for nest sites is probably not sufficiently intense to limit either species. Giant-petrels Macronectes may be important predators of nestlings, specially those of fusca.Differences in the pelagic distribution of the two albatrosses and in the composition of their cephalopod prey suggests that palpebrata feeds mainly south of the Antarctic Conv...