Seasonal Abundance and Offshore Zonation of Prions Pachyptila Spp. off Wollongong, New South Wales

Abstract

During 23 return ocean cruises off Wollongong, N.S.W., from April 1, 1985 to March 1987, 603 prions were counted within an estimated census radius of 170 m. Fairy Prions Pachyptila turtur comprised 599 individuals, of which 96% were present in winter. This seasonal pattern appears to be regular off central New South Wales, but numbers present each year are variable. Fairy Prions were observed in all 10 km incremental zones off the coast but showed a 79% preference for water over the continental slope; only 21 % of individuals per 20-minute census period were counted over neritic water ((200m deep).