Fish in the diet of the Antarctic Shag Leucocarbo bransfieldensis breeding at Paradise Bay, Antarctic Peninsula

The diet of the Antarctic shags was investigated at Paradise Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, by the analysis of 20 pellets collected during the 2015/16 breeding season. Fish were the most frequent and important prey, accompanied by Polychaetes. Amongst fish, only benthic-demersal species were represented in the diet. Harpagifer antarcticus, followed by Notothenia coriiceps, was the most frequent prey and the most important by number and mass. The results are compared with the diet reported for this shag at other localities of the South Shetland Islands and of the Antarctic Peninsula and discussed in terms of geographical significance, breeding output, and population trend.