Diet of the cape petrel Daption capense during the post hatching period at Laurie Island, South Orkney Islands, Antarctica

The diet of the Cape petrel Daption capense was investigated at Laurie Island, South Orkney Islands (60°46'S, 44°42'W), Antarctica, over the period January-February 1996. Stomach contents of adults and regurgitate of chicks were sampled during the post-hatching period. The analysis showed that during the whole sampling period Antarctic krill and fish represented the predominant preys in terms of frequency of occurrence. Fish prey formed near 64% by mass, with krill forming 35.8% during the whole sampling period. The species Electrona antarctica was the most frequent fish prey.
Amphipods were present in lower numbers and Cephalopods were only a very small portion of the diet of Cape petrel at Mossman Peninsula.
Diet composition in terms of frequency of occurrence, mass and number was compared with results of previous studies.