The history of the discovery of emperor penguin colonies, 1902–2004

Polar Record ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Wienecke
Keyword(s):  
Emperor Penguin ◽  
Breeding Colony ◽  
Separate Species ◽  
Satellite Technology ◽  
Emperor Penguins ◽  
Aptenodytes Forsteri ◽  
History Of

ABSTRACTThis article summarises the history of the discovery of emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri colonies. Emperor penguins were probably first seen on James Cook's second voyage (1773–1775) but were not recorded as a separate species until 1844. The first breeding colony of these birds was found in 1902 and a further 32 were sighted over the next century. The total number of colonies is still unknown but today satellite technology is aiding the process of discovery.

Emperor penguins and the First German South Polar Expedition, 1901–1903: The elusive colony in Posadowsky Bay

Polar Record ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Wienecke
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
East Antarctica ◽  
Scientific Interest ◽  
Breeding Colony ◽  
Emperor Penguins ◽  
Aptenodytes Forsteri ◽  
South Polar

Abstract Members of the First German South Polar Expedition (1901–1903) encountered emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) near their wintering station in the sea ice of Posadowsky Bay, East Antarctica. The penguins appeared to be generally less of scientific interest, but more of a useful resource. Despite the presence of chicks, the men were uncertain about the existence of a breeding colony, and did not record the position of the penguin aggregation they encountered. In later years, only a few sightings confirmed the existence of a colony, and the last ground visit took place in 1960. Based on satellite imagery, a colony appears to exist even now. This paper examines what impact the expedition may have had on this colony, and whether it still exists.

The diet of the emperor penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri, in Amanda Bay, Princess Elizabeth Land, Antarctica

1990 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.J. Gales ◽  
N.T.W. Klages ◽  
R. Williams ◽  
E.J. Woehler
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Emperor Penguin ◽  
Minor Components ◽  
Pleuragramma Antarcticum ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Emperor Penguins ◽  
Aptenodytes Forsteri ◽  
Local Topography

The diet of the emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri (Gray) in Amanda Bay, Princess Elizabeth Land, Antarctica, was studied by analysis of adult stomach contents during part of the chick-rearing period from August to October 1986. The penguins consumed almost entirely fish, mainly Pleuragramma antarcticum (Boulenger) (78% by number and 78% by mass). Other fish species, cephalopods and crustaceans were minor components. These results and those of the only other two, geographically distinct, quantitative studies of the diet of emperor penguins suggest that the diet of this species varies through the effects of local topography and hydrology on prey availability.

Emperor penguin colony at Cape Washington, Antarctica

Polar Record ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 26 (157) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald L. Kooyman ◽  
Donald Croll ◽  
Sheridan Stone ◽  
Steven Smith
Keyword(s):  
Emperor Penguin ◽  
Dispersal Pattern ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Emperor Penguins ◽  
Parental Feeding ◽  
Large Colony ◽  
Hydrurga Leptonyx ◽  
History Of ◽  
Penguin Colony ◽  
Ice Edge

AbstractThis article describes the natural history of a large colony of emperor penguins Aptenodytes for steri, its size, dispersal pattern of chicks, and associations with other bird and mammal species. A mid-season count of 19,364 chicks indicated that about 20–25,000 breeding pairs had been present in June and July. The colony was fragmented into several sub-groups which showed different mean sizes of chicks and survival to fledging. Other species observed included leopard seals Hydrurga leptonyx, the only major predators, which preyed heavily on both adults and fledging chicks. Fledgelings left the colony over a period of about 10 days; departure was an active process in which the chicks walked to the ice edge and dispersed in groups, swimming consistently southward. At this time they were still in about 60% down and weighed about 10 kg, having lost some 30% of the heaviest mass achieved during parental feeding.

Population estimates of emperor penguins at Amanda Bay, Ingrid Christensen Coast, Antarctica

Polar Record ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Wienecke ◽  
Peter Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Population ◽  
Emperor Penguin ◽  
Emperor Penguins ◽  
History Of ◽  
Penguin Colony ◽  
Antarctic Treaty ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Made In

ABSTRACTIn 2008, the emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri colony at Amanda Bay, East Antarctica, was designated an Antarctic Specially Protected Area by the 31st Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine. It is only the third emperor penguin colony in the Australian Antarctic Territory to receive this status. The colony has been known to exist since 1956 and numerous visits have been made to it, especially by personnel from Australia's Davis station. On a number of occasions, attempts were made to estimate the number of birds in the colony in order to obtain an insight into the size of the breeding population. Here we report on the history of visitation to the colony since the 1950s and examine the quality of information collected with regard to the usefulness of this information in terms of population analyses. We also report the results of the first visit to the Amanda Bay colony made in winter with the specific purpose of estimating the number of birds present and of highlighting the need for long term monitoring programmes to assess the viability of emperor penguins in future.

Who discovered the emperor penguin? A historical survey from James Cook to Robert F. Scott

Polar Record ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-52
Author(s):  
Michael H. Rosove
Keyword(s):  
British Museum ◽  
Emperor Penguin ◽  
Historical Survey ◽  
Breeding Colony ◽  
Antarctic Species ◽  
James Cook ◽  
Aptenodytes Forsteri ◽  
Scientific Name

ABSTRACTThe emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is an iconic Antarctic species. George Robert Gray attributed the first description to Johann Reinhold Forster during James Cook's voyage of 1772–1775, attribution that persists to this day. Gray therefore honoured Forster in the emperor's scientific name—but he was almost certainly mistaken. Thaddeus von Bellingshausen in 1820 was probably the true first observer. Charles Wilkes in 1840 was next. James Clark Ross in 1841 made important observations and brought specimens home to the British Museum. Edward Wilson and others, in 1902–1903 and 1911 on the two expeditions of Robert F. Scott, discovered and investigated the first breeding colony, substantially advancing knowledge about this remarkable creature.

Emperor penguin colonies in the Australian Antarctic Territory: how many are there?

Polar Record ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 304-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Wienecke
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Emperor Penguin ◽  
International Union ◽  
Emperor Penguins ◽  
Aptenodytes Forsteri ◽  
Data Deficient

ABSTRACTEmperor penguinsAptenodytes forsteriare endemic to Antarctica. Their breeding colonies are located in the coastal areas of the continent. The precise number of breeding locations is uncertain. This paper examines what is known about the colonies in the Australian Antarctic Territory and examines which colonies are without doubt breeding locations and which ones require further examination in order to determine their existence and status. Several colonies have not been seen since they were first reported. This begs the question of whether the reported sightings were indeed of breeding colonies. Given the extent of uncertainty with regard to the number of colonies, it is suggested that the listing of the species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature be changed from ‘of least concern’ to ‘data deficient’.

Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Martínez ◽  
David Christie ◽  
Francesc Jutglar ◽  
Ernest Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Emperor Penguin ◽  
Aptenodytes Forsteri
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