Variability in the diet of New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) at the Auckland Islands, New Zealand

摘要: We examined the stomach contents of 121 New Zealand (NZ) sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) caught by squid fishery during summer/autumn 1997-2006 around Auckland Islands (51°S, 166°E). Dietary variation was assessed among juveniles, lactating females, nonlactating females and males, between areas on shelf. The digested fraction consisted mostly opalfish (Hemerocoetes spp.) (50.1% number [N], 4.7% mass [M]), rattail (Coelorinchus (12.0% N, 2.4% M), arrow (Nototodarus slani) (14.1% 17.9% octopus (Enteroctopus zealandicus) (2.1% 27.8% red cod (Pseudophycis bachus) (3.8% 4.3% M). Opalfish found in greater proportions stomachs (lactating: 58.1% nonlactating: 62.4% N) juveniles (56.9% than males (14.5% N). Juveniles smaller adults did. Over all classes, ate larger prey east north common prey-arrow rattail-constitute an abundant resource at edges shelf, where NZ forage. Although these key are far from rookeries impacted fishery, they may provide only reliable able to support cost benthic foraging behavior deepest diver otariids.