FISH DIET OF THE ANTARCTIC FUR-SEAL, ARCTOCEPHALUS-GAZELLA, IN SUMMER, AT STRANGER-POINT, KING-GEORGE-ISLAND, SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS

In February 1992, 34 faecal samples from non-breeding male Antarctic f ur seals, Arctocephalus gazella, were collected at Stranger Point, Kin g George Island, South Shetlands. Fish constituted an important part o f the diet, occurring in 90% of those seats containing prey remains. F rom 1162 otoliths found in the faeces, 1086 were identified to at leas t family level. Myctophids and nototheniids represented together almos t 90% of the fish eaten. The dominant species were Gymnoscopelus nicho lsi, Pleuragramma antarcticum and Electrona antarctica, contributing 3 3.3%, 30.8% and 12.0% of the otoliths respectively. The standard lengt h of these three species was estimated from otoliths with little or no signs of erosion. This study showed that fur seals fed mainly on pela gic fish species that are often associated with krill. These findings are corroborated by fur seal diving patterns.