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BREEDING BIOLOGY OF THE BLACK‐BROWED ALBATROSS DIOMEDEA MELANOPHRIS AND GREY‐HEADED ALBATROSS D. CHRYSOSTOMA AT BIRD ISLAND, SOUTH GEORGIA
Author(s) -
Tickell W. L. N.,
Pinder R.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1975.tb04237.x
Subject(s) - fledge , albatross , biology , seasonal breeder , zoology , ecology , seabird , habit , predation , psychology , psychotherapist
Summary The two small albatrosses Diomedea melanophris and Diomedea chrysostoma were studied during five summers and one winter at Bird Island, South Georgia. Although superficially similar in habit small but consistent differences in breeding biology were demonstrated between the two species and may be related to differences in breeding frequency. The breeding season of D. chrysostoma was longer than that of D. melanophris and each species favoured slightly different colony sites. The development time (incubation+fledging) of D. chrysostoma (213 days) was substantially longer than that of D. melanophris (184 days). The eggs of D. chrysostoma were slightly larger than those of D. melanophris and there was marked difference in the behaviour of those breeding adults who lost eggs or chicks. D. chrysostoma departed to sea straight away whereas D. melanophris continued to visit the colony for some weeks before going. Daily weighings of nestlings suggested that chrysostoma bring in less food per a given time than melanophris , and this may account for the longer fledgling period.