The importance of land-based prey for sympatrically breeding giant petrels at sub-Antarctic Marion Island

Abstract

Northern (Macronectes halli) and southern (M. giganteus) giant petrels breed at different times at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Long-term census and breeding success data are used to test for competitive overlap between the two species by correlating population trends with those of land-based prey/carrion species. No parameter was singularly important in population regulation of either giant petrel species and the assumed dependence of breeding northern giant petrels on southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina carrion is not entirely supported.