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Mesopelagic communities are characterized by a large biomass of diverse macrozooplankton and micronekton (MM) performing diel vertical migration (DVM) connecting the surface to the deeper ocean and contributing to biogeochemical fluxes. In the Southern Ocean, a prominent High Nutrient Low Chlorophyll (HNLC) and low carbon export region, the contribution of MM to the vertical carbon flux of the biological pump remains largely unknown. Furthermore, few studies have investigated MM communities and vertical flux in naturally iron fertilized areas associated with shallow bathymetry. In this study, we assessed the MM community diversity, abundance and biomass in the Kerguelen Island region, including two stations in the HNLC region upstream of the islands, and two stations in naturally iron fertilized areas, one on the Plateau, and one downstream of the Plateau. The MM community was examined using a combination of trawl sampling and acoustic measurements at 18 and 38 kHz from the surface to 800 m. A conspicuous three-layer vertical system was observed in all areas - a shallow scattering layer, SSL, between 10 and 200 m; mid-depth scattering layer, MSL, between 200 and 500 m; deep scattering layer, DSL, between 500 and 800 m - but communities differing among stations. While salps (Salpa thompsoni) dominated the biomass at the productive Kerguelen Plateau and the downstream station, they were scarce in the HNLC upstream area. In addition, crustaceans (mainly Euphausia vallentini and Themisto gaudichaudii) were particularly abundant over the Plateau, representing a large, although varying, carbon stock in the 0–500 m water layer. Mesopelagic fish were prominent below 400 m where they formed permanent or migrant layers accounting for the main source of carbon biomass. Through these spatial and temporal sources of variability, complex patterns of the MM vertical distribution and associated carbon content were identified. The total carbon flux mediated by migratory myctophids a

Mesopelagic communities are characterized by a large biomass of diverse macrozooplankton and micronekton (MM) performing diel vertical migration (DVM) connecting the surface to the deeper ocean and contributing to biogeochemical fluxes. In the Southern Ocean, a prominent High Nutrient Low Chlorophyll (HNLC) and low carbon export region, the contribution of MM to the vertical carbon flux of the biological pump remains largely unknown. Furthermore, few studies have investigated MM communities and vertical flux in naturally iron fertilized areas associated with shallow bathymetry. In this study, we assessed the MM community diversity, abundance and biomass in the Kerguelen Island region, including two stations in the HNLC region upstream of the islands, and two stations in naturally iron fertilized areas, one on the Plateau, and one downstream of the Plateau. The MM community was examined using a combination of trawl sampling and acoustic measurements at 18 and 38 kHz from the surface to 800 m. A conspicuous three-layer vertical system was observed in all areas - a shallow scattering layer, SSL, between 10 and 200 m; mid-depth scattering layer, MSL, between 200 and 500 m; deep scattering layer, DSL, between 500 and 800 m - but communities differing among stations. While salps (Salpa thompsoni) dominated the biomass at the productive Kerguelen Plateau and the downstream station, they were scarce in the HNLC upstream area. In addition, crustaceans (mainly Euphausia vallentini and Themisto gaudichaudii) were particularly abundant over the Plateau, representing a large, although varying, carbon stock in the 0–500 m water layer. Mesopelagic fish were prominent below 400 m where they formed permanent or migrant layers accounting for the main source of carbon biomass. Through these spatial and temporal sources of variability, complex patterns of the MM vertical distribution and associated carbon content were identified. The total carbon flux mediated by migratory myctophids a

For top consumers in marine environments, trophic discrimination factors (∆13C and ∆15N) between food and consumers’ tissues are expected to be similar among related species. However, few studies conducted in the laboratory indicate a large variability among species, which should be potentially higher in free-ranging animals. Here, we test for differences in tissue-specific ∆13C and ∆15N values of two wild penguin species (Chinstrap Pygoscelis antarctica and Gentoo P. papua) breeding in sympatry at Livingston Island, Antarctica. A total of 41 adults and 28 chicks, and food items comprised exclusively by Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba, n = 22) in Chinstraps and almost exclusively in Gentoos, were sampled for stable isotope analyses. Overall, Δ13C values varied between -1.8 and 4.0 ‰ and Δ15N values ranged from 1.2 to 6.1 ‰, and these differed between species, tissues and age-classes. Δ13C in adult penguins differed between species for feather and blood. Species-specific differences in Δ13C and Δ15N were seen in chick nail and muscle, while only Δ13C values differed between species in feathers. Our results show that trophic discrimination factors can differ substantially between closely related species consuming similar prey, especially in Δ13C value. Variation in Δ13C was driven by species, tissue and age-class, while variation in Δ15N was mostly driven by tissue type. Trophic discrimination factors may be associated to physiological and/or stress factors which may fluctuate in the wild, and this was particularly evident on chicks. This study highlights the use of diet-specialised species for the determination of trophic discrimination factors in the wild.

Cephalopods are an important component of Southern Ocean food webs but studies analysing their habitat and trophic ecology are scarce. Here, we use the Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni as a biological sampler of the Southern Ocean's cephalopods in the Ross, Amundsen, and D'Urville Seas. Ten cephalopod taxa were identified in the diet of the Antarctic toothfish, with Pareledone turqueti and Moroteuthopsis longimana being the only species present in all the three studied areas. DNA analysis conducted on squid flesh samples allowed identification of eight and two specimens of Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni and M. longimana, respectively, proving this technique as a useful tool to improve the knowledge of cephalopods biodiversity and biogeography in the Southern Ocean. Stable isotopes were used to compare the habitat (δ13C) and trophic ecology (δ15N) between two life-stages of the two most abundant squid species (M. longimana and Psychroteuthis glacialis) from the D'Urville Sea (both squid species) and Amundsen Sea (only P. glacialis). Higher δ13C values in M. longimana suggest that this species inhabits waters near the Antarctic Polar Front, with incursions into sub-Antarctic waters, whilst P. glacialis spends its entire life in Antarctic waters. The most recently deposited part of the beak is enriched in 15N suggesting an increase in trophic level during squid growth. These results give us the first insights into the bathyal distribution of cephalopods in the Amundsen and D'Urville Seas, as well as into the ontogenetic changes of two of the most consumed squid species by top predators in this region. Such results are an important step towards improving the biogeography of Antarctic cephalopods, being of utmost importance to understand the biodiversity, food web structure, and functioning of this region.

Cephalopods play a major role in marine ecosystems, yet very little is known about the dynamics of their habitat use and trophic ecology across the stages of their life cycle, particularly in the Southern Ocean. Here, we used stable isotope analyses of δ13C (a proxy for foraging habitat) and δ15N (a proxy for trophic position) to investigate the habitat use and trophic ecology of 10 squid species, collected from the diet of Antipodean (Diomedea antipodensis antipodensis) and Gibson’s (D. a. gibsoni) albatrosses breeding at Antipodes and Adams Island (South Pacific), respectively. We analyzed isotopes in 2 sections of squid lower beaks, representing 2 stages of the life cycle: the tip of the rostrum (juvenile stage) and the wing (adult stage). Higher δ13C values in early life stages (-20.8 ± 1.7‰) than in adult life stages (-21.6 ± 1.9‰) suggest that Southern Ocean squids tend to move southwards as they grow, with oceanic fronts being an important habitat for these species. Our results also suggest that adults may move southwards with climate change, possibly impacting top predators living on northern islands. Overall, δ15N values revealed an increase in trophic position from early (6.7 ± 2.7‰) to adult life stages (9.0 ± 2.5‰) in all species. Nevertheless, significant differences between δ15N values of the 10 species, in both beak sections, suggest different feeding strategies between species and life stages.

Understanding the underlying ecological factors that affect the distribution patterns of organisms is vital for their conservation. Cephalopods such as giant warty squids Moroteuthopsis longimana are important in the diets of marine predators, including grey-headed albatrosses Thalassarche chrysostoma, yet our understanding of their habitat and trophic ecology remains limited. We investigated the habitat and trophic niche utilised by M. longimana through the δ13C and δ15N profiles captured in their beaks. M. longimana beaks were collected around grey-headed albatross nests at the Prince Edward Islands during 2004 and 2013 (n = 40 beaks). The results showed distinctly Antarctic distributions (δ13C = -24.0 ± 1.0‰, mean ± SD) for M. longimana, consistent with albatrosses foraging at the Southwest Indian Ridge, as opposed to broader foraging zones utilised by albatrosses from Îles Crozet and Îles Kerguelen. Slightly lower δ15N values (5.4 ± 0.7‰) were found compared to other islands in the Indian Sector of the Southern Ocean, which may indicate more crustaceans in the squid diets. Sequential sampling along the lateral walls of individual beaks (n = 4) revealed ontogenetic shifts in δ13C and δ15N values, but individual variation in these shifts requires further investigation.

The non-breeding period plays a major role in seabird survival and population dynamics. However, our understanding of the migratory behaviour, moulting and feeding strategies of non-breeding seabirds is still very limited, especially for small-sized species. The present study investigated the post-breeding behaviour of three distant populations (Kerguelen Archipelago, southeastern Australia, New Zealand) of the common diving petrel (CDP) (Pelecanoides urinatrix), an abundant, widely distributed zooplanktivorous seabird breeding throughout the southern Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. The timing, geographical destination and activity pattern of birds were quantified through geolocator deployments during the post-breeding migration, while moult pattern of body feathers was investigated using stable isotope analysis. Despite the high energetic cost of flapping flight, all the individuals quickly travelled long distances (greater than approx. 2500 km) after the end of the breeding season, targeting oceanic frontal systems. The three populations, however, clearly diverged spatially (migration pathways and destinations), and temporally (timing and duration) in their post-breeding movements, as well as in their period of moult. Philopatry to distantly separated breeding grounds, different breeding phenologies and distinct post-breeding destinations suggest that the CDP populations have a high potential for isolation, and hence, speciation. These results contribute to improving knowledge of ecological divergence and evolution between populations, and inform the challenges of conserving migratory species.

Early life-history stages of cephalopods are known to play an important role as prey in food webs of the Southern Ocean, but little information is available about their biology and availability to predators. Top predators, such as penguins, are known to feed regularly on coastal juvenile/sub-adult cephalopods. Using eastern rockhopper penguins Eudyptes filholi as coastal biological samplers, we examined in detail the cephalopod component of their diet in Campbell Island (New Zealand) during two consecutive breeding seasons in order to evaluate (1) the relative importance of cephalopods (by frequency of occurrence, by number and by mass) to the diet of both adult and chick penguins, (2) the habitat and trophic levels of the cephalopods in the region and (3) the status of the juvenile/sub-adult cephalopod community in the waters around Campbell Island. Our results show that eastern rockhopper penguins feed on eight species of juvenile and sub-adult cephalopods, with Onykia ingens, Martialia hyadesi and Octopus campbelli being the most important species by frequency of occurrence, number and mass. Differences between the diets of adult and chick penguins and between breeding seasons were found. Habitat (δ13C) and trophic level (δ15N) information also showed that all cephalopod species (and all studied stages) occupy similar habitat on the Campbell shelf, with M. hyadesi showing lower δ15N values than O. ingens and O. campbelli. This study indicates that eastern rockhopper penguins can be valuable biological samplers of local juvenile/sub-adult cephalopods (including poorly known cephalopod species) around Campbell Island when breeding, that these cephalopods were likely to be caught naturally (not from fisheries), providing relevant information for the conservation of these penguins.

Information is needed on how anomalous environmental conditions affect important Antarctic ecological sentinels during the winter. Using a non-invasive method (scats), the diet of non-breeding gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua at Bird Island, South Georgia, was examined during the winter of 2009 when local environmental conditions were abnormal (e.g. warmer sea surface waters). Scats were collected every 2 weeks from May until October 2009 (N = 168); the diet was dominated by the amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii by frequency of occurrence (77.5% of the samples) and by number (70.5% of the total individuals). By mass, different species of crustaceans (T. gaudichaudii and Antarctic krill Euphausia superba) and fish (Champsocephalus gunnari, Lepidonotothen larseni and Pseudochaenichthys georgianus) were the most important in different periods. Numerically, prey switching occurred at the end of winter, when E. superba became more abundant in the penguins’ diets in late September and early October (austral spring), when sea surface temperatures became colder. T. gaudichaudii is sub-optimal prey for gentoo penguins and its consumption most likely reflects a lack of E. superba in local waters. The consumption of T. gaudichaudii and fish, in place of E. superba, was probably insufficient for the penguins to maintain a body condition suitable for reproduction, contributing to the observed late commencement of breeding (i.e. 2–3 weeks) that year. Our results highlight the sensitivity of gentoo penguin populations to variations in environmental conditions, particularly in terms of how these conditions affect the availability of preferred dietary items and potential follow-on effects in the subsequent breeding season.

Information is needed on how anomalous environmental conditions affect important Antarctic ecological sentinels during the winter. Using a non-invasive method (scats), the diet of non-breeding gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua at Bird Island, South Georgia, was examined during the winter of 2009 when local environmental conditions were abnormal (e.g. warmer sea surface waters). Scats were collected every 2 weeks from May until October 2009 (N = 168); the diet was dominated by the amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii by frequency of occurrence (77.5% of the samples) and by number (70.5% of the total individuals). By mass, different species of crustaceans (T. gaudichaudii and Antarctic krill Euphausia superba) and fish (Champsocephalus gunnari, Lepidonotothen larseni and Pseudochaenichthys georgianus) were the most important in different periods. Numerically, prey switching occurred at the end of winter, when E. superba became more abundant in the penguins’ diets in late September and early October (austral spring), when sea surface temperatures became colder. T. gaudichaudii is sub-optimal prey for gentoo penguins and its consumption most likely reflects a lack of E. superba in local waters. The consumption of T. gaudichaudii and fish, in place of E. superba, was probably insufficient for the penguins to maintain a body condition suitable for reproduction, contributing to the observed late commencement of breeding (i.e. 2–3 weeks) that year. Our results highlight the sensitivity of gentoo penguin populations to variations in environmental conditions, particularly in terms of how these conditions affect the availability of preferred dietary items and potential follow-on effects in the subsequent breeding season.

© 2017 McInnes, Jarman, Lea, Raymond, Deagle, Phillips, Catry, Stanworth, Weimerskirch, Kusch, Gras, Cherel, Maschette and Alderman Almost all of the world's fisheries overlap spatially and temporally with foraging seabirds, with impacts that range from food supplementation (through scavenging behind vessels), to resource competition and incidental mortality. The nature and extent of interactions between seabirds and fisheries vary, as does the level and efficacy of management and mitigation. Seabird dietary studies provide information on prey diversity and often identify species that are also caught in fisheries, providing evidence of linkages which can be used to improve ecosystem based management of fisheries. However, species identification of fish can be difficult with conventional dietary techniques. The black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) has a circumpolar distribution and has suffered major population declines due primarily to incidental mortality in fisheries. We use DNA metabarcoding of black-browed albatross scats to investigate their fish prey during the breeding season at six sites across their range, over two seasons. We identify the spatial and temporal diversity of fish in their diets and overlaps with fisheries operating in adjacent waters. Across all sites, 51 fish species from 33 families were identified, with 23 species contributing >10% of the proportion of samples or sequences at any site. There was extensive geographic variation but little inter-annual variability in fish species consumed. Several fish species that are not easily accessible to albatross, but are commercially harvested or by-caught, were detected in the albatross diet during the breeding season. This was particularly evident at the Falkland Islands and Iles Kerguelen where higher fishery catch amounts (or discard amounts where known) corresponded to higher occurrence of these species in diet samples. This study indicates ongoing interactions with fisheries thro

Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, are important apex predators in the food web of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. However, detailed information on their trophic relationships with cephalopods is scarce. Moreover, cephalopods play a key role in the marine environment, but knowledge of their feeding habits is limited by lack of data. Here, we have combined the use of this seal as a biological sampler together with measurements of the stable isotopic signature of the beaks of their cephalopod prey. Thus, the aims of the present study were: (1) to examine in detail the cephalopod portion of the diet of Weddell seals by means of scat analysis and (2) to assess the habitat use and trophic level of the different cephalopod prey taxa identified. From January to February 2009, a total of 48 faecal droppings were collected at Hope Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Cephalopods were mainly represented by beaks (n = 83) which were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Furthermore, subsamples of beaks were separated for further isotopic analysis. Relative abundance of stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) was determined by continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Cephalopods were represented uniquely by octopods of the subfamily Eledoninae. Pareledone turqueti was the dominant prey species followed by the papillated Pareledone species group and Adelieledone polymorpha. We conclude that Weddell seals preyed primarily on benthic prey resources. Furthermore, the relatively similar δ13C and δ15N values in beaks of the three octopod prey taxa suggest that these share the same type of habitat and occupy similar trophic level positions.

Individual specialization is widespread among wild populations. While its fitness consequences are central in predicting the ecological and evolutionary trajectories of populations, they remain poorly understood. Long-term individual foraging specializations occur in male Antarctic (Arctocephalus gazella) and Australian (A. pusillus doriferus) fur seals. Strong selective pressure is expected in these highly dimorphic and polygynous species, raising the question of the fitness payoffs associated with different foraging strategies. We investigated the relationship between individual isotopic niche (a proxy of foraging specialization), body size and condition, and an index of reproductive success (harem size) in territorial males. Individuals varied greatly in their skin and fur isotopic values reflecting a range of foraging strategies within the two populations. However, in both species, isotopic niche was not correlated to body size, condition or mating success (R (2)/ρ < 0.06). Furthermore, no foraging niche was predominant in either species, which would have indicated a substantial long-term fitness benefit of a particular strategy via a higher survival rate. These results suggest that the fitness consequences of a foraging strategy depend not only on the quality of prey and feeding habitat but also on an individual's hunting efficiency and skills.

Investigating the ontogeny of niche differentiation enables to determine at which life-stages sexual segregation arises, providing insights into the main factors driving resource partitioning. We investigated the ontogeny of foraging ecology in Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), a highly dimorphic species with contrasting breeding strategies between sexes. Sequential δ(13)C and δ(15)N values of whiskers provided a longitudinal proxy of the foraging niche throughout the whole life of seals, from weaning, when size dimorphism is minimal to the age of 5. Females exhibited an early-life ontogenetic shift, from a total segregation during their first year at-sea, to a similar isotopic niche as breeding females as early as age 2. In contrast, males showed a progressive change in isotopic niche throughout their development such that 5-year-old males did not share the same niche as territorial bulls. Interestingly, males and females segregated straight after weaning with males appearing to feed in more southerly habitats than females. This spatial segregation was of similar amplitude as observed in breeding adults and was maintained throughout development. Such early-life niche differentiation is an unusual pattern and indicates size dimorphism and breeding constraints do not directly drive sexual segregation contrary to what has been assumed in otariid seals.

Cephalopods are important prey for numerous seabird species. However, the physical mechanisms by which cephalopods (particularly species considered as deep-dwelling) become available to seabirds are poorly understood, and it has recently been suggested that the discarded stomachs of gutted fish captured by tuna longliners can be a major source of deep-dwelling species. Here, we identify some deep-dwelling cephalopods that appear in the diet of seabirds, review the current knowledge of their vertical distribution, and compare the stomach contents of commercially captured tuna with those of seabirds foraging in the same area. The limited available information leads us to conclude that tuna longliners are unlikely to be a major source of deep-dwelling cephalopods for seabirds. However, much more information is required on the ecology of seabird prey, particularly commercially unexploited cephalopod species, which may be obtained from scientific cruises devoted to cephalopod biological research. In addition multispecies/foodweb modelling studies may be required to explore potential interactions between seabirds, their predators and prey, and commercial fishing operations.

Cephalopods are important prey for numerous seabird species. However, the physical mechanisms by which cephalopods (particularly species considered as deep-dwelling) become available to seabirds are poorly understood, and it has recently been suggested that the discarded stomachs of gutted fish captured by tuna longliners can be a major source of deep-dwelling species. Here, we identify some deep-dwelling cephalopods that appear in the diet of seabirds, review the current knowledge of their vertical distribution, and compare the stomach contents of commercially captured tuna with those of seabirds foraging in the same area. The limited available information leads us to conclude that tuna longliners are unlikely to be a major source of deep-dwelling cephalopods for seabirds. However, much more information is required on the ecology of seabird prey, particularly commercially unexploited cephalopod species, which may be obtained from scientific cruises devoted to cephalopod biological research. In addition multispecies/foodweb modelling studies may be required to explore potential interactions between seabirds, their predators and prey, and commercial fishing operations.

Cephalopods are important prey for numerous seabird species. However, the physical mechanisms by which cephalopods (particularly species considered as deep-dwelling) become available to seabirds are poorly understood, and it has recently been suggested that the discarded stomachs of gutted fish captured by tuna longliners can be a major source of deep-dwelling species. Here, we identify some deep-dwelling cephalopods that appear in the diet of seabirds, review the current knowledge of their vertical distribution, and compare the stomach contents of commercially captured tuna with those of seabirds foraging in the same area. The limited available information leads us to conclude that tuna longliners are unlikely to be a major source of deep-dwelling cephalopods for seabirds. However, much more information is required on the ecology of seabird prey, particularly commercially unexploited cephalopod species, which may be obtained from scientific cruises devoted to cephalopod biological research. In addition multispecies/foodweb modelling studies may be required to explore potential interactions between seabirds, their predators and prey, and commercial fishing operations.

Cephalopods are important prey for numerous seabird species. However, the physical mechanisms by which cephalopods (particularly species considered as deep-dwelling) become available to seabirds are poorly understood, and it has recently been suggested that the discarded stomachs of gutted fish captured by tuna longliners can be a major source of deep-dwelling species. Here, we identify some deep-dwelling cephalopods that appear in the diet of seabirds, review the current knowledge of their vertical distribution, and compare the stomach contents of commercially captured tuna with those of seabirds foraging in the same area. The limited available information leads us to conclude that tuna longliners are unlikely to be a major source of deep-dwelling cephalopods for seabirds. However, much more information is required on the ecology of seabird prey, particularly commercially unexploited cephalopod species, which may be obtained from scientific cruises devoted to cephalopod biological research. In addition multispecies/foodweb modelling studies may be required to explore potential interactions between seabirds, their predators and prey, and commercial fishing operations.

Despite its charismatic appeal to both scientists and the general public, remarkably little is known about the giant squid Architeuthis, one of the largest of the invertebrates. Although specimens of Architeuthis are becoming more readily available owing to the advancement of deep-sea fishing techniques, considerable controversy exists with regard to topics as varied as their taxonomy, biology and even behaviour. In this study, we have characterized the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) diversity of 43 Architeuthis samples collected from across the range of the species, in order to use genetic information to provide new and otherwise difficult to obtain insights into the life of this animal. The results show no detectable phylogenetic structure at the mitochondrial level and, furthermore, that the level of nucleotide diversity is exceptionally low. These observations are consistent with the hypotheses that there is only one global species of giant squid, Architeuthis dux (Steenstrup, 1857), and that it is highly vagile, possibly dispersing through both a drifting paralarval stage and migration of larger individuals. Demographic history analyses of the genetic data suggest that there has been a recent population expansion or selective sweep, which may explain the low level of genetic diversity.

Cephalopods are important prey for numerous seabird species. However, the physical mechanisms by which cephalopods (particularly species considered as deep-dwelling) become available to seabirds are poorly understood, and it has recently been suggested that the discarded stomachs of gutted fish captured by tuna longliners can be a major source of deep-dwelling species. Here, we identify some deep-dwelling cephalopods that appear in the diet of seabirds, review the current knowledge of their vertical distribution, and compare the stomach contents of commercially captured tuna with those of seabirds foraging in the same area. The limited available information leads us to conclude that tuna longliners are unlikely to be a major source of deep-dwelling cephalopods for seabirds. However, much more information is required on the ecology of seabird prey, particularly commercially unexploited cephalopod species, which may be obtained from scientific cruises devoted to cephalopod biological research. In addition multispecies/foodweb modelling studies may be required to explore potential interactions between seabirds, their predators and prey, and commercial fishing operations.

Chemical tracers (e. g. stable isotopes or trace metals) are increasingly used to study trophic ecology and feeding habits of marine organisms and various factors can affect their values. The aim of the present study was to provide information on ontogenic effects on stable carbon and nitrogen values (delta C-13 and delta N-15) and on cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) concentrations in 5 cephalopod species from the Bay of Biscay (North-East Atlantic Ocean). To this end, individuals belonging to 3 species showing the widest range of sizes were analysed for muscle delta C-13 and delta N-15 values and muscle Hg, and digestive gland Cd concentrations. Results showed that stable isotope ratios allowed discrimination of specific feeding strategies during ontogenesis. Segregation between 5 cephalopod species in terms of trophic ecology was also evidenced (different isotopic niches). In contrast, Hg concentrations varied over the same order of magnitude in these 5 cephalopod species, despite higher levels in the benthic octopus Eledone cirrhosa. Consistently, Hg concentrations followed the same ontogenic pattern and increased with increasing body size/age of cephalopods. Finally, Cd concentrations varied over 3 orders of magnitude among the 5 species. Despite possible effects of physiology in terms of metal bioaccumulation, Cd concentrations were likely to reflect specific feeding preferences or feeding zones and ontogenic variability within a single species. Thus, ontogenic effects have to be taken into account when stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen or trace metals are used as ecological tracers; the best recommendation being to focus on a given class age.

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Many members of the benthic fauna of the Antarctic continental shelf share close phylogenetic relationships to the deep-sea fauna adjacent to Antarctica and in other ocean basins. It has been suggested that connections between the Southern Ocean and the deep sea have been facilitated by the presence of a deep Antarctic continental shelf coupled with submerging Antarctic bottom water and emerging circumpolar deep water. These conditions may have allowed ‘polar submergence’, whereby shallow Southern Ocean fauna have colonised the deep sea and ‘polar emergence’, whereby deep-sea fauna colonised the shallow Southern Ocean. A recent molecular study showed that a lineage of deep-sea and Southern Ocean octopuses with a uniserial sucker arrangement on their arms appear to have arisen via polar submergence. A distantly related clade of octopuses with a biserial sucker arrangement on their arms (historically placed in the genus Benthoctopus) is also present in the deep-sea basins of the world and the Southern Ocean. To date their evolutionary history has not been examined. The present study investigated the origins of this group using 3133 base pairs (bp) of nucleotide data from five mitochondrial genes (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, cytochrome c oxidase subunit III, cytochrome b) and the nuclear gene rhodopsin from at least 18 species (and 7 outgroup taxa). Bayesian relaxed clock analyses showed that Benthoctopus species with a high-latitude distribution in the Southern Hemisphere represent a paraphyletic group comprised of three independent clades. The results suggest that the Benthoctopus clade originated in relatively shallow Northern Hemisphere waters. Benthoctopus species distributed in the Southern Ocean are representative of polar emergence and occur at shallower depths than non-polar Benthoctopus species.

Chemical tracers (e. g. stable isotopes or trace metals) are increasingly used to study trophic ecology and feeding habits of marine organisms and various factors can affect their values. The aim of the present study was to provide information on ontogenic effects on stable carbon and nitrogen values (delta C-13 and delta N-15) and on cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) concentrations in 5 cephalopod species from the Bay of Biscay (North-East Atlantic Ocean). To this end, individuals belonging to 3 species showing the widest range of sizes were analysed for muscle delta C-13 and delta N-15 values and muscle Hg, and digestive gland Cd concentrations. Results showed that stable isotope ratios allowed discrimination of specific feeding strategies during ontogenesis. Segregation between 5 cephalopod species in terms of trophic ecology was also evidenced (different isotopic niches). In contrast, Hg concentrations varied over the same order of magnitude in these 5 cephalopod species, despite higher levels in the benthic octopus Eledone cirrhosa. Consistently, Hg concentrations followed the same ontogenic pattern and increased with increasing body size/age of cephalopods. Finally, Cd concentrations varied over 3 orders of magnitude among the 5 species. Despite possible effects of physiology in terms of metal bioaccumulation, Cd concentrations were likely to reflect specific feeding preferences or feeding zones and ontogenic variability within a single species. Thus, ontogenic effects have to be taken into account when stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen or trace metals are used as ecological tracers; the best recommendation being to focus on a given class age.

Chemical tracers (e. g. stable isotopes or trace metals) are increasingly used to study trophic ecology and feeding habits of marine organisms and various factors can affect their values. The aim of the present study was to provide information on ontogenic effects on stable carbon and nitrogen values (delta C-13 and delta N-15) and on cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) concentrations in 5 cephalopod species from the Bay of Biscay (North-East Atlantic Ocean). To this end, individuals belonging to 3 species showing the widest range of sizes were analysed for muscle delta C-13 and delta N-15 values and muscle Hg, and digestive gland Cd concentrations. Results showed that stable isotope ratios allowed discrimination of specific feeding strategies during ontogenesis. Segregation between 5 cephalopod species in terms of trophic ecology was also evidenced (different isotopic niches). In contrast, Hg concentrations varied over the same order of magnitude in these 5 cephalopod species, despite higher levels in the benthic octopus Eledone cirrhosa. Consistently, Hg concentrations followed the same ontogenic pattern and increased with increasing body size/age of cephalopods. Finally, Cd concentrations varied over 3 orders of magnitude among the 5 species. Despite possible effects of physiology in terms of metal bioaccumulation, Cd concentrations were likely to reflect specific feeding preferences or feeding zones and ontogenic variability within a single species. Thus, ontogenic effects have to be taken into account when stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen or trace metals are used as ecological tracers; the best recommendation being to focus on a given class age.

Many members of the benthic fauna of the Antarctic continental shelf share close phylogenetic relationships to the deep-sea fauna adjacent to Antarctica and in other ocean basins. It has been suggested that connections between the Southern Ocean and the deep sea have been facilitated by the presence of a deep Antarctic continental shelf coupled with submerging Antarctic bottom water and emerging circumpolar deep water. These conditions may have allowed 'polar submergence', whereby shallow Southern Ocean fauna have colonised the deep sea and 'polar emergence', whereby deep-sea fauna colonised the shallow Southern Ocean. A recent molecular study showed that a lineage of deep-sea and Southern Ocean octopuses with a uniserial sucker arrangement on their arms appear to have arisen via polar submergence. A distantly related clade of octopuses with a biserial sucker arrangement on their arms (historically placed in the genus Benthoctopus) is also present in the deepsea basins of the world and the Southern Ocean. To date their evolutionary history has not been examined. The present study investigated the origins of this group using 3133 base pairs (bp) of nucleotide data from five mitochondrial genes (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I. cytochrome c oxidase subunit III, cytochrome b) and the nuclear gene rhodopsin from at least 18 species (and 7 outgroup taxa). Bayesian relaxed clock analyses showed that Benthoctopus species with a high-latitude distribution in the Southern Hemisphere represent a paraphyletic group comprised of three independent clades. The results suggest that the Benthoctopus clade originated in relatively shallow Northern Hemisphere waters. Benthoctopus species distributed in the Southern Ocean are representative of polar emergence and occur at shallower depths than non-polar Benthoctopus species.

Many members of the benthic fauna of the Antarctic continental shelf share close phylogenetic relationships to the deep-sea fauna adjacent to Antarctica and in other ocean basins. It has been suggested that connections between the Southern Ocean and the deep sea have been facilitated by the presence of a deep Antarctic continental shelf coupled with submerging Antarctic bottom water and emerging circumpolar deep water. These conditions may have allowed ‘polar submergence’, whereby shallow Southern Ocean fauna have colonised the deep sea and ‘polar emergence’, whereby deep-sea fauna colonised the shallow Southern Ocean. A recent molecular study showed that a lineage of deep-sea and Southern Ocean octopuses with a uniserial sucker arrangement on their arms appear to have arisen via polar submergence. A distantly related clade of octopuses with a biserial sucker arrangement on their arms (historically placed in the genus Benthoctopus) is also present in the deep-sea basins of the world and the Southern Ocean. To date their evolutionary history has not been examined. The present study investigated the origins of this group using 3133 base pairs (bp) of nucleotide data from five mitochondrial genes (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, cytochrome c oxidase subunit III, cytochrome b) and the nuclear gene rhodopsin from at least 18 species (and 7 outgroup taxa). Bayesian relaxed clock analyses showed that Benthoctopus species with a high-latitude distribution in the Southern Hemisphere represent a paraphyletic group comprised of three independent clades. The results suggest that the Benthoctopus clade originated in relatively shallow Northern Hemisphere waters. Benthoctopus species distributed in the Southern Ocean are representative of polar emergence and occur at shallower depths than non-polar Benthoctopus species.

Although penguins are key marine predators from the Southern Ocean, their migratory behaviour during the inter-nesting period remains widely unknown. Here, we report for the first time, to our knowledge, the winter foraging movements and feeding habits of a penguin species by using geolocation sensors fitted on penguins with a new attachment method. We focused on the macaroni penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus at Kerguelen, the single largest consumer of marine prey among all seabirds. Overall, macaroni penguins performed very long winter trips, remaining at sea during approximately six months within the limits of the Southern Ocean. They departed from Kerguelen in an eastward direction and distributed widely, over more than 3.10(6) km(2). The penguins spent most of their time in a previously unrecognized foraging area, i.e. a narrow latitudinal band (47-49 degrees S) within the central Indian Ocean (70-110 degrees E), corresponding oceanographically to the Polar Frontal Zone. There, their blood isotopic niche indicated that macaroni penguins preyed mainly upon crustaceans, but not on Antarctic krill Euphausia superba, which does not occur at these northern latitudes. Such winter information is a crucial step for a better integrative approach for the conservation of this species whose world population is known to be declining.

Although penguins are key marine predators from the Southern Ocean, their migratory behaviour during the inter-nesting period remains widely unknown. Here, we report for the first time, to our knowledge, the winter foraging movements and feeding habits of a penguin species by using geolocation sensors fitted on penguins with a new attachment method. We focused on the macaroni penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus at Kerguelen, the single largest consumer of marine prey among all seabirds. Overall, macaroni penguins performed very long winter trips, remaining at sea during approximately six months within the limits of the Southern Ocean. They departed from Kerguelen in an eastward direction and distributed widely, over more than 3.10(6) km(2). The penguins spent most of their time in a previously unrecognized foraging area, i.e. a narrow latitudinal band (47-49 degrees S) within the central Indian Ocean (70-110 degrees E), corresponding oceanographically to the Polar Frontal Zone. There, their blood isotopic niche indicated that macaroni penguins preyed mainly upon crustaceans, but not on Antarctic krill Euphausia superba, which does not occur at these northern latitudes. Such winter information is a crucial step for a better integrative approach for the conservation of this species whose world population is known to be declining.

Trophic interactions between organisms are the main drivers of ecosystem dynamics, but scant dietary information is available for wide-ranging predators during migration. We investigated feeding habits of a key consumer of the Southern Ocean, the southern elephant seal Miroungia leonina, by comparing its blood delta(13) C and delta N-15 values with those of various marine organisms, including crustaceans, squid, fishes, seabirds and fur seals. At the end of winter, delta C-13 values (-23.1 to -20.1 parts per thousand)indicate that female elephant seals forage mainly in the vicinity of the Polar Front and in the Polar Frontal Zone. Trophic levels derived from delta N-15 values (trophic level = 4.6) show that the southern elephant seal is a top consumer in the pelagic ecosystem that is dominated by colossal squid. The mean delta N-15 value of seals (10.1 +/- 0.3 parts per thousand) indicates that they are not crustacean eaters, but instead feed on crustacean-eating prey. Surprisingly, most of the previously identified prey species have isotope delta C-13 and delta N-15 values that do not fit with those of potential food items. The most singular pattern to emerge from delta N-15 values of predators and prey is that female seals are likely to feed on myctophid fishes, not squid or Patagonian toothfish. We therefore suggest that they Occupy a unique trophic niche amongst the guild of air-breathing, diving vertebrates by feeding on mesopelagic fish at great depths. In turn, this finding emphasizes the role of myctophids in oceanic waters and will help to quantify and model fluxes of matter and energy within the pelagic ecosystem of the Southern Ocean.

Characteristics of the tropical oceanic environment (low productivity, little seasonality) and poor diversity of tropical seabird foraging methods and prey relative to temperate and polar species suggest that tropical seabirds overall encompass a narrow range of isotopic niches, with large overlaps among species. To test this hypothesis, we examined the stable carbon (delta C-13) and nitrogen (delta N-15) isotopic composition of blood and feathers of 5 seabird species from Europa Island, Mozambique Channel. While differences were small, blood delta C-13 and delta N-15 values characterized 5 distinct and non-overlapping trophic niches during the breeding period. Seabirds used 2 distinct foraging areas (delta C-13), one used by sooty tern Sterna fuscata and white-tailed tropicbird Phaethon lepturus and one used by red-footed booby Sula sula and great Fregata minor and lesser F ariel frigatebirds. Seabird species overall encompassed less than 1 trophic level (delta N-15), which is in agreement with a diet mainly based on flying fish and squid. Feather delta C-13 and delta N-15 values showed that the trophic structure of the community was different during the breeding and non-breeding (moulting) periods, suggesting a shift in the feeding ecology when adult birds were no longer central-place foragers. The stable isotope method underlined sex-related (red-footed booby) and age-related (great frigatebird immatures and adults) feeding strategies. It also suggested that breeding adults could feed themselves on different prey than those given to their chicks (sooty tern). Within the tropical pelagic ecosystem, seabirds overall shared the same trophic level as large predatory fishes (albacore, yellowfin and skipjack tunas), but they had lower delta N-15 values than the deeper-dwelling bigeye tuna and swordfish. We conclude that analyzing stable isotope values in blood and feathers appears to be a promising alternative method for investigating food and feeding ecology of tropic

Trophic interactions between organisms are the main drivers of ecosystem dynamics, but scant dietary information is available for wide-ranging predators during migration. We investigated feeding habits of a key consumer of the Southern Ocean, the southern elephant seal Miroungia leonina, by comparing its blood delta(13) C and delta N-15 values with those of various marine organisms, including crustaceans, squid, fishes, seabirds and fur seals. At the end of winter, delta C-13 values (-23.1 to -20.1 parts per thousand)indicate that female elephant seals forage mainly in the vicinity of the Polar Front and in the Polar Frontal Zone. Trophic levels derived from delta N-15 values (trophic level = 4.6) show that the southern elephant seal is a top consumer in the pelagic ecosystem that is dominated by colossal squid. The mean delta N-15 value of seals (10.1 +/- 0.3 parts per thousand) indicates that they are not crustacean eaters, but instead feed on crustacean-eating prey. Surprisingly, most of the previously identified prey species have isotope delta C-13 and delta N-15 values that do not fit with those of potential food items. The most singular pattern to emerge from delta N-15 values of predators and prey is that female seals are likely to feed on myctophid fishes, not squid or Patagonian toothfish. We therefore suggest that they Occupy a unique trophic niche amongst the guild of air-breathing, diving vertebrates by feeding on mesopelagic fish at great depths. In turn, this finding emphasizes the role of myctophids in oceanic waters and will help to quantify and model fluxes of matter and energy within the pelagic ecosystem of the Southern Ocean.

Characteristics of the tropical oceanic environment (low productivity, little seasonality) and poor diversity of tropical seabird foraging methods and prey relative to temperate and polar species suggest that tropical seabirds overall encompass a narrow range of isotopic niches, with large overlaps among species. To test this hypothesis, we examined the stable carbon (delta C-13) and nitrogen (delta N-15) isotopic composition of blood and feathers of 5 seabird species from Europa Island, Mozambique Channel. While differences were small, blood delta C-13 and delta N-15 values characterized 5 distinct and non-overlapping trophic niches during the breeding period. Seabirds used 2 distinct foraging areas (delta C-13), one used by sooty tern Sterna fuscata and white-tailed tropicbird Phaethon lepturus and one used by red-footed booby Sula sula and great Fregata minor and lesser F ariel frigatebirds. Seabird species overall encompassed less than 1 trophic level (delta N-15), which is in agreement with a diet mainly based on flying fish and squid. Feather delta C-13 and delta N-15 values showed that the trophic structure of the community was different during the breeding and non-breeding (moulting) periods, suggesting a shift in the feeding ecology when adult birds were no longer central-place foragers. The stable isotope method underlined sex-related (red-footed booby) and age-related (great frigatebird immatures and adults) feeding strategies. It also suggested that breeding adults could feed themselves on different prey than those given to their chicks (sooty tern). Within the tropical pelagic ecosystem, seabirds overall shared the same trophic level as large predatory fishes (albacore, yellowfin and skipjack tunas), but they had lower delta N-15 values than the deeper-dwelling bigeye tuna and swordfish. We conclude that analyzing stable isotope values in blood and feathers appears to be a promising alternative method for investigating food and feeding ecology of tropic

Trophic interactions between organisms are the main drivers of ecosystem dynamics, but scant dietary information is available for wide-ranging predators during migration. We investigated feeding habits of a key consumer of the Southern Ocean, the southern elephant seal Miroungia leonina, by comparing its blood delta(13) C and delta N-15 values with those of various marine organisms, including crustaceans, squid, fishes, seabirds and fur seals. At the end of winter, delta C-13 values (-23.1 to -20.1 parts per thousand)indicate that female elephant seals forage mainly in the vicinity of the Polar Front and in the Polar Frontal Zone. Trophic levels derived from delta N-15 values (trophic level = 4.6) show that the southern elephant seal is a top consumer in the pelagic ecosystem that is dominated by colossal squid. The mean delta N-15 value of seals (10.1 +/- 0.3 parts per thousand) indicates that they are not crustacean eaters, but instead feed on crustacean-eating prey. Surprisingly, most of the previously identified prey species have isotope delta C-13 and delta N-15 values that do not fit with those of potential food items. The most singular pattern to emerge from delta N-15 values of predators and prey is that female seals are likely to feed on myctophid fishes, not squid or Patagonian toothfish. We therefore suggest that they Occupy a unique trophic niche amongst the guild of air-breathing, diving vertebrates by feeding on mesopelagic fish at great depths. In turn, this finding emphasizes the role of myctophids in oceanic waters and will help to quantify and model fluxes of matter and energy within the pelagic ecosystem of the Southern Ocean.

Characteristics of the tropical oceanic environment (low productivity, little seasonality) and poor diversity of tropical seabird foraging methods and prey relative to temperate and polar species suggest that tropical seabirds overall encompass a narrow range of isotopic niches, with large overlaps among species. To test this hypothesis, we examined the stable carbon (delta C-13) and nitrogen (delta N-15) isotopic composition of blood and feathers of 5 seabird species from Europa Island, Mozambique Channel. While differences were small, blood delta C-13 and delta N-15 values characterized 5 distinct and non-overlapping trophic niches during the breeding period. Seabirds used 2 distinct foraging areas (delta C-13), one used by sooty tern Sterna fuscata and white-tailed tropicbird Phaethon lepturus and one used by red-footed booby Sula sula and great Fregata minor and lesser F ariel frigatebirds. Seabird species overall encompassed less than 1 trophic level (delta N-15), which is in agreement with a diet mainly based on flying fish and squid. Feather delta C-13 and delta N-15 values showed that the trophic structure of the community was different during the breeding and non-breeding (moulting) periods, suggesting a shift in the feeding ecology when adult birds were no longer central-place foragers. The stable isotope method underlined sex-related (red-footed booby) and age-related (great frigatebird immatures and adults) feeding strategies. It also suggested that breeding adults could feed themselves on different prey than those given to their chicks (sooty tern). Within the tropical pelagic ecosystem, seabirds overall shared the same trophic level as large predatory fishes (albacore, yellowfin and skipjack tunas), but they had lower delta N-15 values than the deeper-dwelling bigeye tuna and swordfish. We conclude that analyzing stable isotope values in blood and feathers appears to be a promising alternative method for investigating food and feeding ecology of tropic

A two day workshop on Southern Ocean cephalopods was held in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia prior to the triennial 2006 Cephalopod International Advisory Council (CIAC) symposium. The workshop provided a second international forum to present the current state of research and new directions since the last Southern Ocean cephalopod meeting held in 1993. A major focus of the workshop was trophic ecology and the use of a variety of tools that can be applied in Southern Ocean trophic studies for both cephalopod and predator researchers. New tools that are being used as trophic indicators and tracers in food chain pathways include stable isotope, heavy metal and fatty acid signature analysis. Progress is also being made on understanding squid population dynamics in relation to other key components of the ecosystem by incorporating squid data in ecosystem models. Genetic barcoding is now of great value to fish taxonomy as well as other groups and it is expected that a cephalopod barcoding initiative will be an important tool for cephalopod taxonomy. There is a current initiative to produce a new cephalopod beak identification guide to assist predator biologists in identifying cephalopod prey items. There were also general discussions on specific taxonomic issues, Southern Ocean Cephalopod paralarvae and parasites, and suggestions for future CIAC workshop topics.

A two day workshop on Southern Ocean cephalopods was held in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia prior to the triennial 2006 Cephalopod International Advisory Council (CIAC) symposium. The workshop provided a second international forum to present the current state of research and new directions since the last Southern Ocean cephalopod meeting held in 1993. A major focus of the workshop was trophic ecology and the use of a variety of tools that can be applied in Southern Ocean trophic studies for both cephalopod and predator researchers. New tools that are being used as trophic indicators and tracers in food chain pathways include stable isotope, heavy metal and fatty acid signature analysis. Progress is also being made on understanding squid population dynamics in relation to other key components of the ecosystem by incorporating squid data in ecosystem models. Genetic barcoding is now of great value to fish taxonomy as well as other groups and it is expected that a cephalopod barcoding initiative will be an important tool for cephalopod taxonomy. There is a current initiative to produce a new cephalopod beak identification guide to assist predator biologists in identifying cephalopod prey items. There were also general discussions on specific taxonomic issues, Southern Ocean Cephalopod paralarvae and parasites, and suggestions for future CIAC workshop topics.

The identification of cephalopods using their beaks is still a difficult technique. To increase our knowledge of this technique and stimulate a new generation of beak experts, the III International beak workshop and training course was organized in Faial, Azores Islands in 2007. We briefly review the activities of the workshop, including the identification procedure of lower beaks of cephalopods from predators with emphasis on cetaceans, seals, fish and seabirds; provision of basic knowledge to young researchers interested in the study area; identification of recent developments in beak research; and discussion of the main problematic issues. The families that need particular attention are Brachioteuthidae, Chiroteuthidae, Cranchiidae, Cycloteuthidae, Mastigoteuthidae, Octopoteuthidae, Promachoteuthidae, Onychoteuthidae (particularly the genus Walvisteuthis), Mastigoteuthidae and Cirroteuthidae. The stable isotopic signature of beaks is capable of revealing new trophic relationships and migrations. Future work should focus on: a) obtaining more cephalopod material from research cruises; b) promoting a close and continuous collaboration between beak experts and cephalopod taxonomists and; c) developing new, and updated, beak guides.

A two day workshop on Southern Ocean cephalopods was held in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia prior to the triennial 2006 Cephalopod International Advisory Council (CIAC) symposium. The workshop provided a second international forum to present the current state of research and new directions since the last Southern Ocean cephalopod meeting held in 1993. A major focus of the workshop was trophic ecology and the use of a variety of tools that can be applied in Southern Ocean trophic studies for both cephalopod and predator researchers. New tools that are being used as trophic indicators and tracers in food chain pathways include stable isotope, heavy metal and fatty acid signature analysis. Progress is also being made on understanding squid population dynamics in relation to other key components of the ecosystem by incorporating squid data in ecosystem models. Genetic barcoding is now of great value to fish taxonomy as well as other groups and it is expected that a cephalopod barcoding initiative will be an important tool for cephalopod taxonomy. There is a current initiative to produce a new cephalopod beak identification guide to assist predator biologists in identifying cephalopod prey items. There were also general discussions on specific taxonomic issues, Southern Ocean Cephalopod paralarvae and parasites, and suggestions for future CIAC workshop topics.

The identification of cephalopods using their beaks is still a difficult technique. To increase our knowledge of this technique and stimulate a new generation of beak experts, the III International beak workshop and training course was organized in Faial, Azores Islands in 2007. We briefly review the activities of the workshop, including the identification procedure of lower beaks of cephalopods from predators with emphasis on cetaceans, seals, fish and seabirds; provision of basic knowledge to young researchers interested in the study area; identification of recent developments in beak research; and discussion of the main problematic issues. The families that need particular attention are Brachioteuthidae, Chiroteuthidae, Cranchiidae, Cycloteuthidae, Mastigoteuthidae, Octopoteuthidae, Promachoteuthidae, Onychoteuthidae (particularly the genus Walvisteuthis), Mastigoteuthidae and Cirroteuthidae. The stable isotopic signature of beaks is capable of revealing new trophic relationships and migrations. Future work should focus on: a) obtaining more cephalopod material from research cruises; b) promoting a close and continuous collaboration between beak experts and cephalopod taxonomists and; c) developing new, and updated, beak guides.

A two day workshop on Southern Ocean cephalopods was held in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia prior to the triennial 2006 Cephalopod International Advisory Council (CIAC) symposium. The workshop provided a second international forum to present the current state of research and new directions since the last Southern Ocean cephalopod meeting held in 1993. A major focus of the workshop was trophic ecology and the use of a variety of tools that can be applied in Southern Ocean trophic studies for both cephalopod and predator researchers. New tools that are being used as trophic indicators and tracers in food chain pathways include stable isotope, heavy metal and fatty acid signature analysis. Progress is also being made on understanding squid population dynamics in relation to other key components of the ecosystem by incorporating squid data in ecosystem models. Genetic barcoding is now of great value to fish taxonomy as well as other groups and it is expected that a cephalopod barcoding initiative will be an important tool for cephalopod taxonomy. There is a current initiative to produce a new cephalopod beak identification guide to assist predator biologists in identifying cephalopod prey items. There were also general discussions on specific taxonomic issues, Southern Ocean Cephalopod paralarvae and parasites, and suggestions for future CIAC workshop topics.

The identification of cephalopods using their beaks is still a difficult technique. To increase our knowledge of this technique and stimulate a new generation of beak experts, the III International beak workshop and training course was organized in Faial, Azores Islands in 2007. We briefly review the activities of the workshop, including the identification procedure of lower beaks of cephalopods from predators with emphasis on cetaceans, seals, fish and seabirds; provision of basic knowledge to young researchers interested in the study area; identification of recent developments in beak research; and discussion of the main problematic issues. The families that need particular attention are Brachioteuthidae, Chiroteuthidae, Cranchiidae, Cycloteuthidae, Mastigoteuthidae, Octopoteuthidae, Promachoteuthidae, Onychoteuthidae (particularly the genus Walvisteuthis), Mastigoteuthidae and Cirroteuthidae. The stable isotopic signature of beaks is capable of revealing new trophic relationships and migrations. Future work should focus on: a) obtaining more cephalopod material from research cruises; b) promoting a close and continuous collaboration between beak experts and cephalopod taxonomists and; c) developing new, and updated, beak guides.

Although there is increasing evidence that climatic variations during the non-breeding season shape population dynamics of seabirds, most aspects of their winter distribution and ecology remain essentially unknown. We used stable isotope signatures in feathers to infer and compare the moulting (wintering) habitat of subantarctic petrels breeding at two distant localities (South Georgia and Kerguelen). Petrels showed species-specific wintering habitat preferences, with a similar pattern of latitudinal segregation for all but one taxon. At both localities, δ13C values indicated that blue petrels (Halobaena caerulea) moult in Antarctic waters, South Georgian diving petrels (Pelecanoides georgicus) in the vicinity of the archipelagos and/or in the Polar Frontal Zone and Antarctic prions (Pachyptila desolata) in warmer waters. In contrast, common diving petrels (Pelecanoides urinatrix) showed divergent strategies, with low and high intrapopulation variation at South Georgia and Kerguelen, respectively. Birds from Kerguelen dispersed over a much wider range of habitats, from coastal to oceanic waters and from Antarctica to the subtropics, whereas those from South Georgia wintered mainly in waters around the archipelago. This study is the first to show such striking between-population heterogeneity in individual wintering strategies, which could have important implications for likely demographic responses to environmental perturbation.

The food of three closely related and sympatric species of mollymawks (Diomedea spp.), the black-browed (BBA, D. melanophrys), grey-headed (GHA, D. chrysostoma) and yellow-nosed (YNA, D. chlororhynchos) albatrosses, was compared at Iles Nuageuses, Kerguelen, during the chick-rearing period. BBA preyed almost equally upon cephalopods (39% by fresh mass), fish (31%) and penguins (31%), while GHA fed more on squids (52%, 16% and 28%, respectively) and YNA fed more on fish and not on penguins (13%, 84% and 0%, respectively). Crustaceans were always a minor component of the diet (<3%). Patagonian toothfish was the main fish prey, and Todarodes sp. the main cephalopod prey for the community. Accumulated beaks emphasise the importance of juvenile ommastrephid squids in the diet of mollymawks, accounting for 81%, 71% and 55% of the total number of beaks in BBA, GHA and YNA samples, respectively. BBA preyed also upon a significant number of the octopod Benthoctopus thielei (12%) and of the cranchiid squid Galiteuthis glacialis (4%), while GHA fed more on G. glacialis (18%) and on the onychoteuthid Kondakovia longimana (8%). When feeding on the same prey, prey size was similar for the albatross species. Comparison of overall prey biogeography together with the presence/absence of prey species indicators of water masses indicates segregation through different foraging areas among the three mollymawks. BBA forage almost exclusively over the shelf and upper slope waters surrounding the Kerguelen Archipelago. By contrast, GHA and YNA feed mainly in oceanic waters, YNA favouring the warm subtropical waters, and GHA the cold Antarctic waters. It is thus remarkable that birds from the same breeding grounds forage over such a wide latitudinal range, from about 35–40°S to 60–65°S, encompassing the Subtropical Zone for YNA, the Antarctic Zone for GHA and the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone (where Kerguelen is located) for the three species.

The food of three closely related and sympatric species of mollymawks (Diomedea spp.), the black-browed (BBA, D. melanophrys), grey-headed (GHA, D. chrysostoma) and yellow-nosed (YNA, D. chlororhynchos) albatrosses, was compared at Iles Nuageuses, Kerguelen, during the chick-rearing period. BBA preyed almost equally upon cephalopods (39% by fresh mass), fish (31%) and penguins (31%), while GHA fed more on squids (52%, 16% and 28%, respectively) and YNA fed more on fish and not on penguins (13%, 84% and 0%, respectively). Crustaceans were always a minor component of the diet (<3%). Patagonian toothfish was the main fish prey, and Todarodes sp. the main cephalopod prey for the community. Accumulated beaks emphasise the importance of juvenile ommastrephid squids in the diet of mollymawks, accounting for 81%, 71% and 55% of the total number of beaks in BBA, GHA and YNA samples, respectively. BBA preyed also upon a significant number of the octopod Benthoctopus thielei (12%) and of the cranchiid squid Galiteuthis glacialis (4%), while GHA fed more on G. glacialis (18%) and on the onychoteuthid Kondakovia longimana (8%). When feeding on the same prey, prey size was similar for the albatross species. Comparison of overall prey biogeography together with the presence/absence of prey species indicators of water masses indicates segregation through different foraging areas among the three mollymawks. BBA forage almost exclusively over the shelf and upper slope waters surrounding the Kerguelen Archipelago. By contrast, GHA and YNA feed mainly in oceanic waters, YNA favouring the warm subtropical waters, and GHA the cold Antarctic waters. It is thus remarkable that birds from the same breeding grounds forage over such a wide latitudinal range, from about 35–40°S to 60–65°S, encompassing the Subtropical Zone for YNA, the Antarctic Zone for GHA and the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone (where Kerguelen is located) for the three species.