A Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater eats krill

Maite Louzao (Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón/Xixón, Spain) and colleagues have published early-view in the journal Marine Ornithology on krill regurgitated by a ACAP-listed and Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus during the chick-rearing season.

“In this study, we report observations that, during breeding season, the diet of the endemic Balearic Shearwater includes macrozooplankton, specifically the krill Nyctiphanes couchii.  Further research in needed to accurately assess the importance of euphausiids in the diet of the Balearic Shearwater.”

Balearic Shearwater, photograph by Daniel Oro 

Reference:

Louzao, M., García, D., Rodríguez, B. & Abelló, P. 2015.  Evidence of krill in the diet of Balearic Shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus.  Marine Ornithology 43: 49-51.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 13 March 2015