Skua and Penguin

the long version

Although much of Antarctica is permanently covered in snow and ice, there are also substantial areas of barren rock and scree which provide a breeding ground for two of the continent's most well-known birds: the south polar skua and the Adelie penguin. This book considers the relationship between these two species, taking as its study site Ross Island on the coastal fringe of the continent. Through detailed observations of the foraging ecology of the skua, the traditional view that skuas are totally dependent on penguin eggs and chicks for food is challenged. In addition, studies of the impact of skuas on penguin breeding and the extent to which the skua breeding cycle is functionally related to that of the penguin provide further evidence to suggest that the two species occur together independently as a consequence of limited breeding space, rather than as a result of a distinct predator-prey relationship. This book provides a fascinating insight into the life of the skua and the penguin. It will be of interest to all ornithologists and to ecologists studying predator-prey relationships, who will find in it a wealth of detailed information about the relationship between the two most visible and accessible of Antarctic bird species.