La victoria del pingüino antártico en la Isla Ardley: ¿ventaja física o mayor agresividad?

Abstract

We studied the nesting behaviour of the three pygoscelid penguin species in the colony of Ardley island (South Shetland Archipelago). We observed Pygoscelid antartica displacing both P. Adeliae and P. papua from their nest-sites. Differences in time of arrival, nest-site preferences and aggressiveness among the three species ehre found. Based on these observations whe propose an explanation por P. antartica's success in nest-site contests. Our explanation differs from the one proposed by Trivelpiece and co-workers from the same species in a different area in that differential aggressiveness and nest-site preferences seem to be relevant factors in this procces while fisical advantage does not.