DEAD OR ALIVE, NIGHT OR DAY - HOW DO ALBATROSSES CATCH SQUID

For many albatross species squid are important prey. Whether albatross es depend on scavenging (e.g. of vomit from cetaceans, post-spawning d ie-offs or fishery waste) or on live-capture of squid (e.g. via diel v ertical migrations in association with aggregations of squid prey) is controversial. This review of the nature of interactions between squid and the four species of albatross breeding at South Georgia uses data on the foraging range, methods and timing of feeding of the albatross es in relation to the size, distribution, buoyancy characteristics (fl oaters or sinkers), bioluminescence and prey of the squid and access t o fishery waste. We conclude that most evidence for scavenging needs c ritical re-evaluation; nevertheless, whereas wandering albatrosses and possibly light-mantled sooty albatrosses probably depend significantl y on scavenged squid, black-browed and especially grey-headed albatros ses are unlikely to do so.