Temporal variation in the diet of gentoo penguins at the Falkland Islands

摘要: Knowledge of diet is critical in interpreting the ecological roles marine top predators and provides information towards their conservation management. The Falkland Islands hold largest number breeding gentoo penguins. Yet knowledge penguin at Falklands limited to either broad taxonomic divisions prey items or dietary samples collected only on a single day. This study first investigate Cow Bay, Falklands, species level, over repeated sampling intervals during period. Through stomach content analysis, we determined large temporal scale (2002/2003/2004–2011/2012/2013) between guard creche periods chick rearing. principle item by reconstituted mass was rock cod fish Patagonotothen spp., for all (47–78 %) except that 2012/2013 period (19 %) when herring Sprattus fugensis made up bulk (52 %). Of cephalopods recovered, Patagonian squid Doryteuthis gahi prominent (1–24 %), while crustaceans contributed negligibly diet. Our findings revealed penguins were primarily demersal foragers with an ability pelagic feeding. Diet choice appears reflect availability.