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Abstract

abstract

An international survey of Antarctic seabirds (ISAS) was recommended by SCAR to monitor population changes in selected species. Fluctuations in these populations might aid in detecting any changes in relative abundance of prey resources, chiefly krill. Insufficient data exists from the Prince Edward islands, southern Indian Ocean, to comment on population changes in the king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus and rockhopper penguin Eudyptes chrysocome, but macaroni penguins E. chrysolophus may have increased in numbers at Marion Island since 1977. The rockhopper penguin population at Gough Island, south Atlantic, may have increased in size. The wandering albatross Diomedea exulans may have decreased in numbers at Marion Island over the last 12 years. Existing data on the wandering albatross population of Prince Edward and Gough Island preclude any comments on population trends. Standard techniques in monitoring different species should be employed and it is important to continue monitoring the wandering albatross which is decreasing in numbers at several localities throughout its rage.