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    Krill consumption by Adélie penguins in CCAMLR Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2

    Request Meeting Document
    Document Number:
    WG-EMM-16/65
    Author(s):
    C. Southwell and L. Emmerson
    Submitted By:
    Dr Colin Southwell (Australia)
    Approved By:
    Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)
    Abstract

    We estimate the total abundance of Adélie penguins foraging in Divisions 58.4.1 and 58.4.2 and provide preliminary estimates of krill consumed by breeding Adélie penguins in these Divisions using a newly developed bio-energetics model.  Our estimate of ~6 million Adélie penguins substantially revises known abundance upwards by including the large non-breeding population and estimating a larger breeding population than was evident from previous work. The population of breeding Adélie penguins was estimated to consume 193,300 (57,700 – 313,700) tonnes of krill during a breeding season (November (arrival) to March (end of moult)). We are currently extending the prey consumption model to estimate the amount of krill consumed by non-breeding Adélie penguins and consumption for the entire population including breeders and non-breeders outside the breeding season.