4. Discussion
Reproduction and survival are key demographic parameters impacting population dynamics (Stearns 1992). We used mark-recapture techniques to evaluate these parameters for the African penguin at two colonies and confirmed the presence of reproductive skipping behaviour. We illustrate that variation in survival is driven by food availability, with lower sardine abundance linked to lower survival at Robben Island, and higher survival at Stony Point. Similarly inter-colony differences were evident in breeding propensity; reproductive skipping occurred at both colonies, but at a higher rate at Robben Island than at Stony Point. Alongside providing key demographic information on the endangered African penguin, this study represents the first reliable estimates of reproductive skipping in this species.