ADVANCES IN POLAR SCIENCE ›› 1991, Vol. 3 ›› Issue (3): 45-55.

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ECOLOGY OF CATHARACTA MACCORMICKI NEAR ZHONGSHAN STATION IN LARSEMAMN HILLS,EAST ANTARCTICA

  

  • Online:1991-09-30 Published:1991-09-30

Abstract: The present paper deals with the ecological and biological studies of the south polar skua Catharacta maccorimicki near Zhongshan Station in Larsemann Hills (69°21'- 29°25'S, 76°00'-76°25'E), East Antractica. The field work was carried out during January 1989 to February 1990. Larsemann Hills consists of some rocky peninsulas and islands. Those provide breeding sites for small sea birds such as snow petrel Pago-droma nivea and Wilson's storm petrel, Oceanies oceanicus which nest in or under the eroded bedrock and boulders of morainic slopes, particulary in the east part of the Hilis -the Broknes peninsula. 15 skua nests, which were separated in the study area, were observed. 7 pairs of those skuas exploit and defend their feeding territories, which established in the areas with higher density of snow petrel distribution. These pairs of south polar skua took less food garbage from the stations. But the others have no feeding tenitories and they mostly foraged in preferred feeding areas and the stations. South polar skuas arrived at this study area in October for theil reproduc-tivcactivities. They laid the first egg in middle of November, and most of their eggs were laid in the period of late November to early December. After 25-27 days incu-ba ting, the chicks hatched. Food scaicity, bad weather and other preyers are main factors to impede the chicks in their growth and survival.