SUMMER DIET OF SEABIRDS FROM THE FRANZ-JOSEF-LAND ARCHIPELAGO, RUSSIAN ARCTIC

Food samples from 102 seabirds from eight species (fulmar Fulmarus gla cialis, common elder Somateria mollissina, glaucous gull Larus hyperbo reus, kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, arctic tern Sterna paradisaea, Brunn ich's guillemot Uria lomvia, black guillemot Cepphus grylle,little auk Alle alle) were collected during the period August 1991-1993 in the s outhern part of the Frans Josef Land archipelago, 80 degrees N, 53 deg rees E. The pelagic amphipod Parathemisto libellula and polar cod Bore ogadus saida were the two most commonly taken food items (frequency of occurrence over 50% and weight contribution more than 70%). Ice-assoc iated crustaceans contributed to some 10% of the weight in the samples . In general, the food composition was very similar to that reported f rom Svalbard. However, birds from Frans Josef Land fed on a lower dive rsity of prey compared to Svalbard populations.