A bioenergetics model for estimating prey consumption by an Adélie penguin population in east Antarctica

We developed a bioenergetics model to estimate prey consumption by the Adelie penguin. The model predicts prey consumption throughout the breeding season and incorporates uncertainty in model parameters using Monte Carlo simulation. The model was parametised with data obtained from the CEMP site at Bechervaise Island using 13 years of data, a year when penguins successfully reared chicks, and a year with low breeding success. On the basis of variable breeding success and the proportion of krill and fish in their diet, we estimate that this population consumes 78-406 t of krill and 4-46 t of fish each breeding season.