scholarly journals Macroplastic in Seabirds at Mirny, Antarctica

Birds ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
Sergey Golubev
Keyword(s):  
Marine Debris ◽  
Emperor Penguin ◽  
Biological Interactions ◽  
Pygoscelis Adeliae ◽  
Plastic Debris ◽  
The World ◽  
Aptenodytes Forsteri ◽  
Catharacta Maccormicki ◽  
Marine Wildlife ◽  
South Polar

Plastic debris makes up the majority of marine debris around the world, and pollution is a serious threat to marine wildlife. Threats represent two types of biological interactions with plastic: entanglement and ingestion. This paper describes interactions of seabirds with plastic in Mirny and draw the attention of researchers to the existing problem. In 2012/2013 and 2015/2016, year-round observations of the author were carried out at Mirny station and Haswell Islands (area of about 12 km2), east Antarctica. One case of entanglement of a molting adult Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) in a fishing line was been identified; in addition to one case of an adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) mistakenly ingesting plastic braided rope and subsequently feeding it as part of a food lump to the chick, and two cases of macroplastics found in pellets of south polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki). Registrations of entanglement and ingestion of macroplastic by seabirds in Mirny are rare. They signal to us about problem that needs to be included in the monitoring for the health of terrestrial biota of the Haswell archipelago.

scholarly journals Seabirds of human settlements in Antarctica: A case study of the Mirny Station

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-113
Author(s):  
Sergey Golubev
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Pygoscelis Adeliae ◽  
Human Settlements ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Bird Population ◽  
Catharacta Maccormicki ◽  
South Polar ◽  
Adélie Penguins

Antarctica is free of urbanisation, however, 40 year-round and 32 seasonal Antarctic stations operate there. The effects of such human settlements on Antarctic wildlife are insufficiently studied. The main aim of this study was to determine the organization of the bird population of the Mirny Station. The birds were observed on the coast of the Davis Sea in the Mirny (East Antarctica) from January 8, 2012 to January 7, 2013 and from January 9, 2015 to January 9, 2016. The observations were carried out mainly on the Radio and Komsomolsky nunataks (an area of about 0.5 km). The duration of observations varied from 1 to 8 hours per day. From 1956 to 2016, 13 non-breeding bird species (orders Sphenisciformes, Procellariiformes, Charadriiformes) were recorded in the Mirny. The South polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) and Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) form the basis of the bird population. South polar skuas are most frequently recorded at the station. Less common are Brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) and Adélie penguins. Adélie penguins, Wilson's storm petrels (Oceanites oceanicus), South polar and Brown skuas are seasonal residents, the other species are visitors. Adélie penguins, Emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri), Macaroni (Eudyptes chrysolophus) and Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica), Wilson's storm petrels, South polar and Brown skuas interacted with the station environment, using it for comfortable behavior, feeding, molting, shelter from bad weather conditions, and possible breeding. South polar and Brown skuas tend to be attracted to the station, while other Antarctic bird species are indifferent to humans. Birds spend part of the annual cycle at the station or visit it with different frequency, but they cannot meet their ecological needs there all year round. The study improves our understanding of the regularities of the phenomenon of urbanization of the avifauna in the polar regions of the planet Earth. 

Heart and ventricle weights of Antarctic penguins

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 2602-2604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles M. Drabek
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Left Ventricle ◽  
Right Ventricle ◽  
Emperor Penguin ◽  
Morphological Parameters ◽  
Pygoscelis Adeliae ◽  
Pygoscelis Antarctica ◽  
Aptenodytes Forsteri ◽  
The Right ◽  
Adélie Penguins

The hearts of Emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri), Chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica), and Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) were weighed and measured to elucidate morphological parameters that might be functional for diving. These heart parameters are the first to be described for penguins. Heart weights of both the Chinstrap (42.4 g) and Adelie penguins (37.5 g) were greater than predicted for birds of their body size. The weight of the right ventricle in proportion to both the heart and the left ventricle was significantly greater in the Emperor Penguin than in the Chinstrap and Adelie penguins.

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal diet variability of Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri) Penguin: a multi tissue stable isotope analysis

Polar Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vahideh Jafari ◽  
Deborah Maccapan ◽  
Giulio Careddu ◽  
Simona Sporta Caputi ◽  
Edoardo Calizza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Ross Sea ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Emperor Penguin ◽  
Adélie Penguin ◽  
Pygoscelis Adeliae ◽  
Adelie Penguin ◽  
Aptenodytes Forsteri

AbstractThe Ross Sea, Antarctica, supports large populations of Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) and Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae), two key meso-predators that occupy high trophic levels. Despite these species are largely studied, little is known about their diet outside the breeding period. In the present study, we investigated the intra-annual diet of Adélie and Emperor Penguins belonging to five colonies in the Ross Sea through the stable isotope analysis of different tissues (feathers and shell membranes), synthetized in different seasons, and guano that indicates recent diet. Penguin samples and prey (krill and fish) were collected during the Antarctic spring–summer. δ13C and δ15N of tissues and guano indicate spatio-temporal variation in the penguin diet. The krill consumption by Adélie Penguins was lowest in winter except in the northernmost colony, where it was always very high. It peaked in spring and remained prevalent in summer. The greatest krill contribution to Emperor Penguin’s diet occurred in summer. The relative krill and fish consumption by both species changed in relation to the prey availability, which is influenced by seasonal sea ice dynamics, and according to the penguin life cycle phases. The results highlight a strong trophic plasticity in the Adélie Penguin, whose dietary variability has been already recognized, and in the Emperor Penguin, which had not previously reported. Our findings can help understand how these species might react to resource variation due to climate change or anthropogenic overexploitation. Furthermore, data provides useful basis for future comparisons in the Ross Sea MPA and for planning conservation actions.

Survival Analysis of Eggs and Chicks of AdÉlie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)

The Auk ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd S. Davis ◽  
Frances T. McCaffrey
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Survival Analysis ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Pygoscelis Adeliae ◽  
Nest Location ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Catharacta Maccormicki ◽  
South Polar ◽  
Adélie Penguins

Abstract Survival analysis was used to examine the fates of eggs in six colonies of Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) at Cape Bird, Antarctica. Hatching success was 56.2% and fledging success for chicks was 63.3%, giving an overall reproductive success of 35.6%. The major cause of losses of both eggs and chicks was predation by South Polar Skuas (Catharacta maccormicki). The second-most important causes of egg and chick mortality were desertion and starvation, respectively, both of which resulted from inadequate timing of nest relief. Eggs were at risk of predation by skuas throughout the incubation period, while chicks were at risk for the first 30 days after hatching. The likelihood of desertion increased after the eggs had been incubated for 16 days and reached a peak at 22-24 days. Starvation occurred during the guard stage and was most likely to occur when chicks were 6-8 days old. Timing of breeding and clutch size were factors that influenced the survival of eggs through the initial stage of incubation. Nest location had a significant effect on the survival of eggs and chicks, from laying through the end of the guard stage. Eggs laid in 2-egg clutches and in central nests were most likely to produce chicks that fledged.

Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)

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

Human influences on breeding of south polar skuas in the eastern Larsemann Hills, Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica

Polar Record ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 32 (180) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Wang ◽  
F.I. Norman ◽  
J.S. Burgess ◽  
S.J. Ward ◽  
A.P. Spate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Success ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
East Antarctica ◽  
Larsemann Hills ◽  
Catharacta Maccormicki ◽  
Area Development ◽  
South Polar ◽  
Made In ◽  
Area Data

AbstractBreeding activity of pairs of south polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) in the eastern Larsemann Hills, Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica, was recorded in five of six austral summers between 1988 and 1994. More detailed observations of breeding success were made in the 1989/90 and 1993/94 summers. Although relatively few skuas nest in the study area, data suggest that there was inter-annual variation in numbers and locations of territories and chicks fledged. This variation is discussed in relation to increased human activities in the area (development of a summer base and more permanent stations) and to an enhanced access to human-derived foods. It is concluded that there has been some human impact on this species in the Larsemann Hills.

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.

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