Abstract:

Regurgitated pellets and food remains from south polar skua in the area near Zhongshan Station in East Antarctica, Were collected and examined. The results show that the skuas preying on snow petrel more often than on other small sea birds, the former is the dominant species in local animal community. The average occurrence of snow petrel remains was very high (67-80%) in total food items. Meanwhile, as complemental food resource, also the skuas feed on food refuse from the stations in this area. There is a remarkable quantitative difference of prey birds in different pairs of skua. 6 pairs of skua nesting in (or near) the snow petrel breeding sites with higher density, exploit and defend their feeding territories, and they prey on snow petrel much more than others. Therefore, the snow petrel remains collected from those nests make up 78 percent of the sum total. The others have no feeding territory and they mostly forage for food in preferred feeding areas and the stations.

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