Abstract:

The skua's nesting, feeding behavior, population variances and breeding success as well as their habitat natural conditions in the areas near Great Wall Station and Zhongshan Station in Antarctica were compared. The results show that there are evident differences in their population ecology. The habit in foraging is much related to regional ecosystem and food resources near their breeding grounds. Dependence on human food remains does influence skua's diet,which affects considerably ecological behavior as well as population variation of both species in both areas. The population in higher latitude, such as Zhongshan Station, could shorten and/or regulate the timing for their egg lying and hatching, and take precedence of one chick brooding, so that it could keep their breeding success for species continuation.