Ecology Summary - Stercorarius maccormicki

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Ecology of Stercorarius maccormicki

Main Ref.	SAUP Database, 2006
Remarks	A pelagic, long-lived seabird. Breeds mainly along the coast and associated islands in the Antarctic continent, possibly extending inland in the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands; possibly the southernmost breeding bird in the world, recorded at Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole. In some localities, may be found nesting in sympatry with Brown Skuas (Stercorarius antarcticus) and notably feed exclusively at sea while Brown Skuas feed on land (Ref. 95073). However, where there is allopatric nesting, it forages both at sea and terrestrially, mainly on penguin eggs and chicks (Ref. 95081). Exhibits a variety of foraging tactics but feeds mainly on penguins and pelagic fish. First breeding at 7 to 9 years of age. Breeding pairs nest in areas without snow and ice; typically lays two eggs. Size of breeding colonies vary; the largest colony at Cape Crozier, Ross Island, with ca.1000 breeding pairs. At Cape Crozier, breeding span recorded at almost 16 years. Monogamous for multiple seasons and with high site-fidelity. Generally breed in association with Adelie Penguins and may be the only avian predator bearing a major impact on populations of breeding seabirds in the Antarctic (Ref. 95073).

Main Ref.

SAUP Database, 2006

Remarks

A pelagic, long-lived seabird. Breeds mainly along the coast and associated islands in the Antarctic continent, possibly extending inland in the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands; possibly the southernmost breeding bird in the world, recorded at Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole. In some localities, may be found nesting in sympatry with Brown Skuas (Stercorarius antarcticus) and notably feed exclusively at sea while Brown Skuas feed on land (Ref. 95073). However, where there is allopatric nesting, it forages both at sea and terrestrially, mainly on penguin eggs and chicks (Ref. 95081). Exhibits a variety of foraging tactics but feeds mainly on penguins and pelagic fish. First breeding at 7 to 9 years of age. Breeding pairs nest in areas without snow and ice; typically lays two eggs. Size of breeding colonies vary; the largest colony at Cape Crozier, Ross Island, with ca.1000 breeding pairs. At Cape Crozier, breeding span recorded at almost 16 years. Monogamous for multiple seasons and with high site-fidelity. Generally breed in association with Adelie Penguins and may be the only avian predator bearing a major impact on populations of breeding seabirds in the Antarctic (Ref. 95073).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Stercorarius maccormicki may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.	Given, A., 2009
Associations	colony-forming/symphorism;
Associated with	Stercorarius antarcticus
Association remarks	In some localities, may be found nesting in sympatry with Brown Skuas (Stercorarius antarcticus) and feed exclusively at sea while Brown Skuas feed on land (Ref. 95073). However, where there is allopatric nesting, it forages both at sea and terrestrially, mainly on penguin eggs and chicks (Ref. 95081). Loosely colonial (Ref. 91362).
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type	mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref.	Montalti, D., R. Casaux, N. Coria, G. Soave and G. Grilli, 2009
Feeding habit	hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref.	Montalti, D., R. Casaux, N. Coria, G. Soave and G. Grilli, 2009

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	original sample		unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition	4.50	0.80			Troph of juv./adults.
From individual food items	4.59	0.64			Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.	Montalti, D., R. Casaux, N. Coria, G. Soave and G. Grilli, 2009

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