DIET OF CAPE PETREL DAPTION CAPENSE DURING THE POSTHATCHING PERIOD ATLAURIE ISLAND, SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS, ANTARCTICA

The diet of Cape petrel Daption capense was investigated at Laurie Isl and, South Orkney Islands (60 degrees 46'S, 44 degrees 42'W), Antarcti ca, in the period January-February 1996. Stomach contents of adults an d regurgitate of chicks were sampled during the post-hatching period. The analysis showed that during the whole sampling period Antarctic kr ill and fish represented the predominant preys in terms of frequency o f occurrence, forming nearly 35.8% and 64% by mass, respectively. The species Electrona antarctica was the most frequent fish prey. Amphipod s were present in lower numbers and cephalopods were detected in the d iet, but in a very small proportion. Diet composition in terms of freq uency of occurrence, mass and number is compared with results of previ ous studies.