Foraging areas and plasticity of yellow-eyed penguins Megadyptes antipodes in their subantarctic range

Yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) in the subantarctic range exhibit significant foraging plasticity, with 62% of their foraging trips categorized as pelagic, contrasting with the predominantly benthic behavior observed in mainland populations. This study, conducted over two breeding seasons on Enderby Island, Auckland Islands, New Zealand, analyzed GPS data from 91 foraging logs to reveal that foraging distances and areas were greater for females and pelagic foragers, while benthic foragers traveled further from shore on average. The research also found that foraging area size increased in years with higher breeding effort and fledging success (2016), suggesting that environmental conditions and individual preferences play crucial roles in their foraging behavior. These findings imply that subantarctic foraging conditions may differ significantly from those in mainland New Zealand, potentially influencing future breeding success.

Muller, C., Chilvers, B., Chiaradia, A., French, R., Kato, A., Ropert-Coudert, Y., & Battley, P. (2021). Foraging areas and plasticity of yellow-eyed penguins Megadyptes antipodes in their subantarctic range. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 679, 149–162. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13911