A matter of history: effects of tourism on physiology, behaviour and breeding parameters in Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at two colonies in Argentina

Villanueva, Cecilia; Walker, Brian; Bertellotti, Marcelo

doi:10.1007/s10336-011-0730-1

Cited by 50 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…This species has been studied extensively because it constitutes 84% of the breeding seabird community in this region (Yorio et al 1998), is near threatened (IUCN 2012; IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; Version 2012.2. www. iucnredlist.org; accessed on December 2012), and interacts with humans through fisheries and ecotourism (Yorio et al 2001, Villanueva et al 2012. Magellanic penguins have been the subject of several studies aimed at investi-gating the link between prey availability and diet (e.g., Forero et al 2002a, Wilson et al 2005, spatial distribution of conspecifics (e.g., Wilson et al 2005, Boersma et al 2009, Yorio et al 2010 and reproductive performance (e.g., Tella et al 2001, Forero et al 2002a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the feeding ecology of a top marine predator, the Magellanic penguin

et al. 2014

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Abstract. Understanding how top predators respond to natural and anthropogenically induced changes in their environment is a major conservation challenge especially in marine environments. We used a multidisciplinary approach to explore the mechanisms through which a typical central-place forager, the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) from the Chubut province of Argentina, responds to variations in oceanic conditions and prey resources. We combined habitat and species distribution modeling with isotopic dietary reconstructions based on blood d 13 C and d 15N values to quantify the role of bathymetry, sea-surface temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration, abundance of conspecifics, and extent of fisheries activities in explaining the foraging and feeding ecology of individuals breeding at different colonies. The at-sea distribution of penguins was tightly coupled with the spatial distribution of their staple prey species, anchovies (Engraulis anchoita), especially in areas over the continental shelf (.200 m depth), with relatively warm water (from 168 to 218C), and moderate abundances of conspecifics (from 50 to 250 individuals). Competition with conspecifics and human fisheries were also identified as important factors explaining penguin diet with decreasing relative contributions of anchovies with increasing abundance of conspecifics and fishing activity. Our multifactorial approach allowed us to simultaneously explore different physical, biological and anthropogenic features likely affecting marine resource availability, and, consequently, driving the feeding and foraging ecology of this central-place forager. Our approach can be extended to a large suite of central-place foragers, thus providing important advances in the way we investigate how to effectively conserve and manage these species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the feeding ecology of a top marine predator, the Magellanic penguin

et al. 2014

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“…Stress may have a negative effect on breeding birds, causing nest desertion (Yorio et al 2001). Yet, it has been shown that negative effects can be minimized or even disappear if birds habituate to disturbance (Yorio & Boersma 1992, Nisbet 2000, Cevasco et al 2001, Martínez-Abraín et al 2008, Villanueva et al 2012. Meanwhile there are many studies that demonstrate the negative effects of tourists walking near or within a colony (Burger & Gochfeld 1998), little is known about the effects of vessels disturbance on breeding and feeding birds, understanding disturbance as a suspension of the foraging or searching for food activity or temporary abandonment of the nest (Martínez-Abraín et al 2002, Velando & Munilla 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although habitat and feeding requirements were previously described for these 2 species (e.g., Punta et al 2003 a, b), there is a lack of information on the effects of human visitation on seabird colonies and animals foraging, in general for Argentina (Yorio & Boersma 1992, Yorio & Quintana 1996, Villanueva et al 2012, and in particular along the Beagle Channel.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of anthropic activity on the Imperial Cormorants and Rock Shags colonies in the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego

Rosciano

Svagelj²,

Rey

2013

Rev. biol. mar. oceanogr.

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Resumen.-Las aves marinas son importantes componentes del ecosistema marino y para las economías locales a través del ecoturismo. Distintas fuentes de disturbio humano pueden afectar a estas aves, causando un decrecimiento en el éxito reproductivo o el tamaño poblacional. Las colonias de nidificación de Phalacrocorax atriceps y P. magellanicus constituyen un atractivo turístico importante para la ciudad de Ushuaia, donde el número de embarcaciones turísticas que las visitan ha incrementado en los últimos años. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar si hay influencia de las actividades humanas en la distribución y abundancia de las colonias de cormoranes y de los individuos en el mar, en el Canal Beagle, Tierra del Fuego. Se definieron variables explicatorias de origen antrópico, como distancia al recorrido del catamarán, y ambientales, como sustrato adecuado para anidar y batimetría, y se relacionaron con datos de tamaño de las colonias y la distribución de alimentación de los cormoranes. La distribución de las colonias y de los individuos en el mar de P. atriceps y P. magellanicus en el Canal Beagle no fueron afectadas por las actividades turísticas. La abundancia de P. magellanicus en las colonias estuvo asociada con islas de gran superficie de acantilados rocosos disponibles para anidar. La distribución de P. atriceps en el mar estuvo relacionada con aguas poco profundas. Aunque no se observó impacto antropogénico en nuestro estudio, dado el aumento del tráfico de embarcaciones y del turismo, se sugieren estudios más específicos y de largo plazo que permitan precisar pautas de manejo del turismo sustentable. Palabras clave: Canal Beagle, disturbio humano, Phalacrocorax atriceps, Phalacrocorax magellanicus, turismoAbstract.-Seabirds are important components of the marine ecosystem and provide an income for local economies through ecotourism. Human disturbance may affect colonial birds causing a decrease in reproductive success and population size. Breeding colonies of Phalacrocorax atriceps and P. magellanicus, are one of the major tourist attractions of Ushuaia city and the number of tourist vessels visiting colonies increased in recent years. We aim to evaluate if there is an influence of human activities on the distribution and abundance of Cormorants´ and Shags´ colonies and individuals at sea in the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego. Explanatory variables from anthropic source, such as distance to the vessels route, and environmental variables, as adequate substrate type to nest and bathymetry, for each species were defined and related to the data recorded of the size of both species colonies and the feeding distribution. Allocation of colonies and distribution at sea of P. atriceps and P. magellanicus in the Beagle Channel were not affected by tourism activities. Abundance of P. magellanicus at the colonies was associated to islands with a large surface of rocky cliffs available for nesting. Distribution of P. atriceps at sea was related to shallow waters. Although no anthropogenic impact was noticed in our study, ...

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“…Spheniscus penguin colonies, in particular, are popular tourist destinations in Argentina and Chile (Simeone and Schlatter 1998, Skewgar et al 2009, Villanueva et al 2012. Negative effects such as reduced breeding success, lower fledging weights, changes in normal behavior, higher heart rates, lower nest densities, collapsed burrows, and higher levels of stressinduced hormones in penguins in frequently visited sites have been observed for various penguin species (Villanueva et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Negative effects such as reduced breeding success, lower fledging weights, changes in normal behavior, higher heart rates, lower nest densities, collapsed burrows, and higher levels of stressinduced hormones in penguins in frequently visited sites have been observed for various penguin species (Villanueva et al 2012). The effect of tourist disturbance can vary from one species to another as in the Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) and Magellanic Penguin (S. magellanicus) because Humboldt Penguins are shier and more sensitive to human presence than Magellanic Penguins (Ellenberg et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population Trends of a Mixed-Species Colony of Humboldt and Magellanic Penguins in Southern Chile after Establishing a Protected Area

Reyes-Arriagada¹,

Hiriart‐Bertrand²,

Riquelme³

et al. 2013

ACE

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. 2013. Population trends of a mixed-species colony of Humboldt and Magellanic Penguins in southern Chile after establishing a protected area. Avian Conservation and Ecology 8(2): 13. http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ ACE-00617-080213 ABSTRACT. Worldwide marine protected areas (MPAs) have been designated to protect marine resources, including top predators such as seabirds. There is no conclusive information on whether protected areas can improve population trends of seabirds when these are further exploited as tourist attractions, an activity that has increased in past decades. Humboldt Penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) and Magellanic Penguins (S. magellanicus) breed sympatrically on Puñihuil Islets, two small coastal islands off the west coast of Chiloé Island (41° S) in southern Chile that are subject to exploitation for tourism. Our goal was to compare the population size of the mixed colony of Humboldt and Magellanic Penguins before and after protection from unregulated tourism and freely roaming goats in 1997. For this purpose, two censuses were conducted in 2004 and 2008, and the numbers compared with those obtained in 1997 by other authors. The proportion of occupied, unoccupied, and collapsed/ flooded burrows changed between years; there were 68% and 34% fewer collapsed burrows in 2004 and 2008, respectively, than in 1997. For the total number of burrows of both species, we counted 48% and 63% more burrows in 2004 and 2008, respectively, than in 1997. We counted 13% more burrows of Humboldt Penguins in 2008 than in 1997, and for Magellanic Penguins, we estimated a 64% increase in burrows in 2008. Presumably, this was as a result of habitat improvement attributable to the exclusion of tourists and the removal of goats from the islets. Although tourist visits to the islets are prohibited, tourism activities around the colonies are prevalent and need to be taken into account to promote appropriate management. Research Paper Population Trends of a Mixed-Species Colony of Humboldt and Magellanic Penguins in Southern Chile after Establishing a Protected AreaRÉSUMÉ. Les aires marines protégées ont été établies à l'échelle mondiale pour protéger les ressources marines, dont les prédateurs au sommet de la chaîne alimentaire comme les oiseaux marins. Rien n'indique de façon concluante que la protection d'aires permet une hausse des populations d'oiseaux marins dans les cas où ces populations représentent toujours une attraction touristique, activité dont la popularité a augmenté au cours des dernières décennies. Les Manchots de Humboldt (Spheniscus humboldti) et les Manchots de Magellan (S. magellanicus) nichent de façon sympatrique sur les îlots Puñihuil, deux petites îles au large de la côte ouest de l'île de Chiloé (41° S.) qui font l'objet de visites touristiques dans le sud du Chili. L'objectif de notre étude était de comparer la taille des deux Nous pouvons présumer que ces hausses résultent de l'amélioration de l'habitat consécutive à l'exclusion des touristes et au retrait des chèvres des îlots. Même si les visite...

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A matter of history: effects of tourism on physiology, behaviour and breeding parameters in Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at two colonies in Argentina

Cited by 50 publications

References 38 publications

Natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the feeding ecology of a top marine predator, the Magellanic penguin

Natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the feeding ecology of a top marine predator, the Magellanic penguin

Effect of anthropic activity on the Imperial Cormorants and Rock Shags colonies in the Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego

Population Trends of a Mixed-Species Colony of Humboldt and Magellanic Penguins in Southern Chile after Establishing a Protected Area

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