No abstract

I necropsied 213 blue penguins (Eudyptula m. minor) collected during 1994 to 1998, mainly from Oamaru Harbour and urban areas, the remainder from sites south to Otago Peninsula. The dominant categories were malnutrition (16%), and cause of death (15%). Where malnutrition was involved, it was usually unclear whether it was the direct cause of death or the consequence of undiagnosed natural disease or infestation. Twenty five per cent of birds died from animal attacks. Aspergillosis was the commonest natural disease (3.3%). Endoparasitism was uncommon (1.3%). This study provides significant evidence of geographic variation in infestation of blue penguins.

The distribution of HSPs, primarily HSP 27, may aid in identifying different cell populations within prostatic carcinomas and thus help forecast biological behaviour.

Necropsy was performed on each of 124 yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) opportunistically collected from eastern Otago, in New Zealand. A review of causes of death is presented, including 22% due to predation, 13% to starvation and in 18% no cause was recognised. A reference database of internal organ weights has been compiled. Anatomical comparisons, using similar material from blue penguins (Eudyptula minor), may reflect the deeper foraging levels of the yellow-eyed penguin. There is also variation between the species in rates of internal parasitism and in the presence of gastroliths.

No abstract