Ecological segregation of burrowing petrels (Procellariidae) at Marion Island

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dc.contributor.advisorSiegfried, W Ren_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSchramm, Michaelen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-25T16:45:05Z
dc.date.available2016-09-25T16:45:05Z
dc.date.issued1984en_ZA
dc.description.abstract1. Eight burrowing petrel species were found nesting within the area studied in north-eastern Marion Island during April 1979 to May 1980. These were Salvin's Prion Pachyptila vittata salvini, Blue Petrel Halobaena caerulea, Greatwinged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera, Kerguelen Petrel Pterodroma brevirostris, Softplumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis, Whitechinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis, Grey Petrel Procellaria cinerea and South Georgian Divingpetrel Pelecanoides georgicus. Eighty-one percent of burrows found belonged to Salvin's Prions. 2. The nest site preferences of Salvin's Prion, Blue Petrel, Greatwinged Petrel, Kerguelen Petrel, Softplumaged Petrel and Whitechinned Petrel were investigated. These species had individual preferences with respect to soil depth, soil moisture content, slope angle or slope aspect. 3. The Kerguelen breeding biologies and diets of Greatwinged Petrels, Petrels and Softplumaged Petrels were studied. The species bred at different times of the year with non-overlapping chick-rearing periods. Incubation periods were similar but, relative to adult size, Kerguelen Petrel chicks grew fastest. All three species took mainly cephalopods although Kerguelen Petrels took the most crustaceans and fish. 4. Subantarctic Skuas Catharacta antarctica were important predators of petrels. They preyed upon whatever petrel species were most abundant in an area, although large petrels (Whitechinned Petrel) and those breeding in winter (Greatwinged Petrel) were seldom taken. 5. Similar petrel species had the bulk of their breeding populations spread over different habitats thus reducing any competition for nest space. At the same time, staggered timing of breeding, and particularly the non-overlapping chick-rearing periods of the three Pterodroma petrels, helped to minimize competition for food.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationSchramm, M. (1984). <i>Ecological segregation of burrowing petrels (Procellariidae) at Marion Island</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21886en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSchramm, Michael. <i>"Ecological segregation of burrowing petrels (Procellariidae) at Marion Island."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, 1984. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21886en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSchramm, M. 1984. Ecological segregation of burrowing petrels (Procellariidae) at Marion Island. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Schramm, Michael AB - 1. Eight burrowing petrel species were found nesting within the area studied in north-eastern Marion Island during April 1979 to May 1980. These were Salvin's Prion Pachyptila vittata salvini, Blue Petrel Halobaena caerulea, Greatwinged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera, Kerguelen Petrel Pterodroma brevirostris, Softplumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis, Whitechinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis, Grey Petrel Procellaria cinerea and South Georgian Divingpetrel Pelecanoides georgicus. Eighty-one percent of burrows found belonged to Salvin's Prions. 2. The nest site preferences of Salvin's Prion, Blue Petrel, Greatwinged Petrel, Kerguelen Petrel, Softplumaged Petrel and Whitechinned Petrel were investigated. These species had individual preferences with respect to soil depth, soil moisture content, slope angle or slope aspect. 3. The Kerguelen breeding biologies and diets of Greatwinged Petrels, Petrels and Softplumaged Petrels were studied. The species bred at different times of the year with non-overlapping chick-rearing periods. Incubation periods were similar but, relative to adult size, Kerguelen Petrel chicks grew fastest. All three species took mainly cephalopods although Kerguelen Petrels took the most crustaceans and fish. 4. Subantarctic Skuas Catharacta antarctica were important predators of petrels. They preyed upon whatever petrel species were most abundant in an area, although large petrels (Whitechinned Petrel) and those breeding in winter (Greatwinged Petrel) were seldom taken. 5. Similar petrel species had the bulk of their breeding populations spread over different habitats thus reducing any competition for nest space. At the same time, staggered timing of breeding, and particularly the non-overlapping chick-rearing periods of the three Pterodroma petrels, helped to minimize competition for food. DA - 1984 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1984 T1 - Ecological segregation of burrowing petrels (Procellariidae) at Marion Island TI - Ecological segregation of burrowing petrels (Procellariidae) at Marion Island UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21886 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/21886
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSchramm M. Ecological segregation of burrowing petrels (Procellariidae) at Marion Island. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, 1984 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21886en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentPercy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherOrnithologyen_ZA
dc.titleEcological segregation of burrowing petrels (Procellariidae) at Marion Islanden_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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