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. 

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.

Guidelines for people approaching breeding groups of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)

Polar Record ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 34 (191) ◽  
pp. 287-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Giese
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Natural Disturbances ◽  
Measurable Effect ◽  
Pygoscelis Adeliae ◽  
Heart Rates ◽  
Incubation Behaviour ◽  
Breeding Groups ◽  
Least Disturbance ◽  
South Polar ◽  
Adélie Penguins

AbstractIncreases in the number of people travelling to Antarctica has led to more frequent interactions between people and Antarctic wildlife, yet the effects of visitation on the animals has received limited scientific assessment. This study conducted experiments to measure the responses of incubating Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) to controlled human approaches to determine which approach distances and approach styles caused the least disturbance to the birds. Three minimum approach distances were tested: 30, 15, and 5 m. Approaching penguins to 30 m had no measurable effect on either their behaviour or heart rate, while approaching as close as 15 m significantly elevated their heart rates above resting, undisturbed levels even though there was no behavioural indication of this response. Approaching penguins to 5 m significantly interrupted the penguins' incubation behaviour, with the potential to cause egg-cooling. Approaches to 5 m elevated heart rates above those measured when birds were undisturbed, approached to either 15 or 30 m, or exposed to ‘natural’ disturbances (that is, other penguins or south polar skuas, Catheracta maccormicki). The study also identified certain Adelie penguin behaviours that may be indicative of disturbance in response to human visitation. People visiting breeding penguins could learn to identify these behaviours, so they can monitor and modify any effects of their visit.

Spatial distribution of birds and terrestrial plants in Bunger Hills

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-166
Author(s):  
Michelle R. Leishman ◽  
John A.E. Gibson ◽  
Damian B. Gore
Keyword(s):  
Central Area ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Environmental Controls ◽  
Catharacta Maccormicki ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
The Last Glacial Maximum ◽  
South Polar ◽  
The Last Glacial

AbstractIn this paper, we synthesize recorded observations of moss, lichen and bird species in Bunger Hills, East Antarctica, and assess the role of environmental controls, including sediment, salinity, moisture and geology, on species' distributions. The distribution of snow petrels (Pagodroma nivea) appears to be associated with geology; they nest by preference in crevices in bedrock outcrops around the margins of the hills or wherever jointed cliffs are found. South polar skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) are seen throughout Bunger Hills, where they nest and prey on snow petrels. Mosses and lichens were most abundant around the ice margins where fresh snow and ice meltwater are abundant. In the central area of Bunger Hills, where the highest salt concentration in sediments is found and exposure to abrasion by wind-driven mineral sand grains and ice particles is greatest, mosses and lichens are reduced in abundance and diversity. Exposure of parts of Bunger Hills from the ice sheet throughout the Last Glacial Maximum, c. 20 ka bp, means that some land and lakes could have acted as regional refugia and as a locus of recolonization of other ice-free areas.

Status and trends of Adélie penguin populations in the Ross Sea region

Polar Record ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 26 (159) ◽  
pp. 293-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Taylor ◽  
P. R. Wilson ◽  
B. W. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Change ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Ross Sea ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
World Population ◽  
Pygoscelis Adeliae ◽  
The World ◽  
Status And Trends ◽  
Aerial Reconnaissance ◽  
Adélie Penguins

AbstractAerial reconnaissance and photography were used in the Ross Sea sector of Antarctica to determine the breeding locations of Adelie penguinsPygoscelis adeliae, and to count the numbers of nests occupied during the early incubation period. From 1981 to 1987, all islands and sea coasts between 158°E and 175°E were searched, and 11 previously unreported breeding rookeries were discovered. Thirty-eight Adé1ie rookeries are now known from the region, with a total of about 1,082,000 breeding pairs — almost half the world population. Some rookeries were photographed in all, or most, of the seven seasons to study the pattern of natural fluctuations in Adelie populations, and comparisons have been made with earlier counts. Populations at nearly all rookeries have increased in size over the last 10–20 years. Possible reasons for this, and for annual fluctuations in numbers breeding, include seasonal variations in. sea ice and weather conditions, and longer-term climatic change.

Breeding behaviour of colour-aberrant Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) at Cape Crozier, Ross Island, Antarctica

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Parker M. Levinson ◽  
Annie E. Schmidt ◽  
Virginia Morandini ◽  
Megan Elrod ◽  
Dennis Jongsomjit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mate Selection ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Adélie Penguin ◽  
Pygoscelis Adeliae ◽  
Frequency Condition ◽  
Adelie Penguin ◽  
Individual Fitness ◽  
Adélie Penguins

Abstract Plumage colour variation occurs widely among bird species and is often associated with individual fitness. More specifically, colouration can affect thermoregulatory ability, mate selection and conspicuousness during foraging. Colour aberrations can be caused by genetic mutations, dietary imbalances, environmental conditions or disease and are rare. Plumage variations have previously been noted in Adélie penguins, although without any follow-up to measure implications for behaviour or fitness. To assess how this low-frequency condition affects breeding in Adélie penguins, we monitored the breeding of several colour-aberrant Adélie penguins during the 2019–2020 nesting season at the large Cape Crozier, Ross Island colony (> 300,000 pairs). In total, we found 12 individuals with unusual plumage for a frequency of 1:50,000 breeding penguins. There were seven dark brown Adélie penguins, three progressive greying Adélie penguins, one dilute Adélie penguin and one brown Adélie penguin, of which five were female, three male and four of unknown sex. Six colour aberrants initiated breeding with a normal-coloured mate, and five raised at least one chick to crèche. The likelihood of breeding and breeding success of colour aberrants were similar to those of normal-coloured Adélie penguins, suggesting that colour aberrations do not negatively affect breeding.

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 Features of formation bird population structure in Minsk in the time aspect

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-425
Author(s):  
V. V. Sakhvon ◽  
M. E. Nikiforov
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
European Continent ◽  
Bird Population ◽  
Mixed Origin ◽  
Large Water ◽  
The City

The structure of bird population of urbanized areas is determined by the diversity of habitats within the city, the diversity of bird species in suburban biotopes, and regional processes of dispersal of birds closely associated with human settlements. The analysis of the dynamics of the breeding bird species richness in Minsk showed that its formation progressed in different ways. All in all, since 1946, 141 bird species have been recorded nesting (including allegedly) in the territory of Minsk.The breeding bird assemblages is dominated by dendrophilous (45.0 % of all species) as well as wetland and semi-aquatic (29,3 %) bird species, with more than half of all the breeding bird species (50.3 %) associated with trees and shrubs. In different periods, the breeding bird species richness varied, by now, it has noticeably increased (from 77 to 132 species). This happened due to the expansion of the administrative boundaries of the city with the inclusion of bird species of suburban habitats, an increase in the diversity of habitats suitable for bird nesting (for example, the formation of large water bodies) as well as due to active colonization of urban ecosystems by various bird species. At the same time, after 2000, 9 bird species stopped nesting and 17 bird species started nesting. Active processes of synurbization of some bird species on the European continent observed in recent decades have become the reason for the addition of new species to the avifauna in Minsk, although the basis of the current structure of bird population was formed back in 1986–1999. At the same time, the synurbized groups of various bird species may be of autochthonous, allochthonous, or mixed origin.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document