Publication Date:
2020-06-15
Description:
122 regurgitations by adults and chicks of the small grey-headed and black-browed albatrosses (mollymauks) included, besides flesh remains, 421 upper beaks (mandibles) and 422 lower
beaks of cephalopods. The lower beaks and some flesh remains were identified, their lower rostral lengths were measured and the wet weight of squids represented by beaks was estimated. Nine species of squid and one octopod were identified. In both species of albatross, the muscular ommastrephid squid Todarodes is the principal squid in the diet, contributing 88% of the beaks and an estimated 91% of the weight of cephalopods represented by beaks in grey-headed albatrosses and 68% of the beaks and 76% of the weight in black-browed albatrosses. Second in importance in the diet is a cranchiid Mesonychoteuthis sp. A, which contributes 8% and 25% by number and 4% and 12% by weight to the diet of grey-headed and blackbrowed albatrosses, respectively. The eight remaining species are each represented by either one or two lower beaks. These samples are compared with samples from sperm whale stomachs and wandering albatrosses also collected near South Georgia.
Type:
Article
,
PeerReviewed
Format:
text
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