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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Surviving off junk: Low-energy prey dominates the diet of African penguins Spheniscus demersus at Mercury Island, Namibia, between 1996 and 2009
African Journal of Marine Science, Volume 32, No. 3, Year 2010
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Description
The diet of African penguins Spheniscus demersus in Namibia consisted mainly of sardine Sardinops sagax in the 1950s. Since the collapse of pelagic fish stocks in the 1970s, birds fed mainly on bearded (pelagic) goby Sufflogobius bibarbatus, a low-energy prey species. We present diet data for African penguins breeding at Mercury Island, the largest colony for this species in Namibia, between 1996 and 2009. Bearded goby was the main prey item throughout the study period, both in terms of frequency of occurrence (67.8%; SD 31.2) and in terms of mass (59.2%; SD 31.5). Diet composition varied throughout the year as well as between years; birds occasionally fed on a variety of fish species other than bearded goby. In Namibia, poor prey abundance is considered as a major factor contributing to the decline of penguin numbers after the collapse of the sardine stocks. However, bearded goby appears to be relatively abundant along Namibia's southern coast and low prey quality rather than low abundance appears to be a key factor influencing population dynamics of African penguins and other marine top predators in southern Namibia. © NISC (Pty) Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Ludynia, Katrin
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Roux, Jean Paul
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Namibia, Swakopmund
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Namibia
Jones, Rian
Namibia, Swakopmund
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Namibia
Kemper, Jessica
Namibia, Swakopmund
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Namibia
Namibia, Luderitz
African Penguin Conservation Project
Underhill, Leslie Gordon
South Africa, Cape Town
University of Cape Town
Statistics
Citations: 50
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.2989/1814232X.2010.538151
ISSN:
1814232X
e-ISSN:
18142338
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Namibia