Foraging ecology of emperor penguins.

Emperor penguins, Aptenodytes forsteri, play an important role as top predators in high Antarctic marine ecosystems. Long foraging cycles enable chick-rearing birds to range widely in their quest for food. The present study focuses on the critical two month-period before fledging, when maximum growth of chicks occurs and food demand is high at the Pointe Géologie emperor penguin colony of about 3000 breeding pairs. Objectives were to identify the foraging distribution and feeding grounds by satellite tracking chick-rearing penguins, determine the length and duration of feeding trips, to characterise the pattern of movements and diving relative to the bottom topography and sea ice distribution and to examine the diet of emperor penguins.