Fifty-year change in penguin abundance on Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica: results of the 2019–20 census

Strycker, Noah; Borowicz, Alex; Wethington, Michael; Forrest, Steven C.; Shah, Vikrant; Liu, Yang; Singh, Hanumant; Lynch, Heather J.

doi:10.1007/s00300-020-02774-4

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The global population of breeding seabirds and chicks was estimated to be 745 million individuals (Table S1 ). After addition of the estimated number of non-breeding birds (30% 4 , 36 , 37 ), the total seabird population was estimated to be 969 million individuals. This figure is lower than reported in previous studies, in which estimates vary between 900 and 1180 million 4 , 10 , 36 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the difference is consistent with the overall decline in the populations of many seabird species attributed to the effects of global climate change on the availability of food. For example, the population of the chinstrap penguin ( Pygoscelis antarcticus ) is declining at an alarming rate due to global climate perturbations at the regional level affecting the sea ice phenology, a process that has repercussions for penguin food supply and competition for resources 37 , 38 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Global deposition of potentially toxic metals via faecal material in seabird colonies

Peña-Lastra

Pérez‐Alberti

Ferreira

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Seabirds are known to play an important role in the geochemical cycling of macronutrients; however, their role in cycling elements of environmental interest has not been investigated. Guano is an important source of marine-derived nutrients and trace metals in seabird nesting areas, but most of the available information on this topic is derived from local studies. In the present study, we used a bioenergetic model to estimate the amounts of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) that are deposited via faecal material in seabird colonies worldwide. The findings showed that the seabirds excreted 39.3 Mg (Mg = metric ton or 1000 kg) of Cd, 35.7 Mg of Hg and 27.2 Mg of Pb annually. These amounts are of the same order of magnitude as those reported for other fluxes considered in the geochemical cycling of these elements (e.g. sea-salt spray, cement production, soil loss to oceans). Most of the deposition occurs in circumpolar zones in both hemispheres and, interestingly, high proportions of the metals in the excrements occur in geochemically labile forms, which can be easily leached into coastal waters and assimilated by marine organisms.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global deposition of potentially toxic metals via faecal material in seabird colonies

Peña-Lastra

Pérez‐Alberti

Ferreira

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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“…reported no Macaroni penguins at Cape Lindsey Most recent census at known breeding colonies (A = Adult, N = Nest, C = Chick) Strycker et al 2021). reported 207 pairs at this location in 2020, and this represents the only new Macaroni penguin colony on Elephant Island since the earlier surveys established the distribution of Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) in the 1970s.Six of the reported locations in the Elephant Island region experienced net decline.…”

mentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Strycker et al (2021) reported 129 breeding pairs at Crab Beach in 2020, while Croxall and Kirkwood (1979) reported 100 breeding pairs in 1970, marking a 29% increase in population size within a 50-year period. Jacob's Ladder experienced an 81% population increase, increasing from 130 pairs in 1971 (Croxall and Kirkwood 1979) to 235 pairs in 2020 (Strycker et al 2021). Cape Lookout increased in population size from 273 pairs in 1970 (Croxall and Kirkwood 1979) to 303 pairs in 2020 (Strycker et al 2021), marking an 11% increase.…”

Section: Elephant Islandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Update on the abundance and distribution of Macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) in the Antarctic Peninsula region

Hallet,

Lynch

2023

Preprint

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Several studies have examined the potential impacts of climate change on the abundance and distribution of Antarctic penguin species, particularly in the genus Pygoscelis. However, less attention has been given to traditionally sub-Antarctic penguin species. The Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) is one such sub-Antarctic species whose presence in Antarctica has historically been restricted to colonies on the South Shetland Islands and adjacent islands, but their status in the region has not been updated in decades. We compiled census data on all known Macaroni penguin breeding colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula region in order to estimate the total Antarctic population. We estimate a population of 8,053 breeding pairs for the region, which represents an approximately 10.7% increase since the last regional census in 1993. We identify local population changes at different colonies in comparison to historical census data. We also identify vagrant sightings in the region, as they may reflect prospecting of new breeding habitat, especially as ice-free areas continue to expand due to climate change. Our assessment identifies the South Shetland Islands and South Orkney Islands as notable data gaps.

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“…Major predators of penguins include leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx), which are known to discard penguin carcasses, creating a possible source for penguin food falls (Hall-Aspland and Rogers, 2004). Because of the high abundance of penguins in the area of the Antarctic Peninsula (over 50,000 breeding pairs on Elephant Island alone (Strycker et al, 2021)), penguin falls could represent a significant food input for deep benthic communities of the Weddell Sea. Indeed, toothfish of the genus Dissostichus scavenge penguin carcasses and were also observed on the images analyzed here (Fenaughty et al, 2003;Roberts et al, 2011).…”

Section: A B E D Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food falls in the deep northwestern Weddell Sea

Stauffer

Purser²,

Griffiths³

et al. 2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

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When pelagic organisms die and fall onto the deep-sea floor they create food falls, i.e., parcels of organic enrichment that subsidize deep benthic scavenging communities. The diversity and quantities of food falls remain unstudied for many ocean regions since they are stochastically deposited and rapidly scavenged. The Southern Ocean habitat supports large populations of megafauna but few food falls have been documented. To investigate the diversity and quantity of food falls in the northwestern Weddell Sea, we analyzed 8476 images from the deep seafloor that were captured during the expedition PS118 on RV Polarstern in 2019 by the camera system OFOBS (Ocean Floor Observation and Bathymetry System). OFOBS was towed 1.5 m above the seafloor along five transects (400 to 2200 m seafloor depth) east of the Antarctic Peninsula. We observed the carcasses of one baleen whale, one penguin, and four fish at depths of 647 m, 613 m, 647 m, 2136 m, 2165 m, and 2112 m, respectively, as well as associated scavenging fauna. To the best of our knowledge, we describe here the first in situ observations of deep-sea food falls for penguins and fish in the Southern Ocean. While the whale carcass seemed in an intermediate successional stage, both the penguin and the fish were likely recently deposited and three of the fish potentially resulted from fishery discards. Our relatively small data set suggests that a diverse array of food falls provide nutrients to the slopes of the Powell Basin.

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Fifty-year change in penguin abundance on Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica: results of the 2019–20 census

Cited by 11 publications

References 35 publications

Global deposition of potentially toxic metals via faecal material in seabird colonies

Global deposition of potentially toxic metals via faecal material in seabird colonies

Update on the abundance and distribution of Macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) in the Antarctic Peninsula region

Food falls in the deep northwestern Weddell Sea

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