Abundance and Distribution of Macaroni Penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula

Question 1

Where do Macaroni Penguins breed?

Answer 1

Sub-Antarctic island in Southern Ocean

Question 2

What do Macaroni Penguins primarily feed on?

Answer 2

Krill

Question 3

what is the estimated global population of Macaroni Penguins (as of 2013)

Answer 3

• 6.3 million breeding pairs
• 30% decline

Question 4

Where is most research on Macaroni Penguins conducted?

Answer 4

• South Georgia Island
• Large concentration of Macaroni Penguins

Question 5

What are possible reasons for the decline in the Macaroni Penguin populations on the South Georgia Island between 1980 and 2000?

Answer 5

• Decline in Antarctic Krill
• Competition with Antarctic fur seals

Question 6

Antarctic Convergence

Answer 6

Marine belt encircling Antarctica that varies in latitude seasonally (cold Antarctic waters meet warmer sub-Antarctic waters)

Question 7

What is the significance of the Antarctic Convergence?

Answer 7

It results in the upwelling of prey (high productivity)

Question 8

What locations is breeding limited to for Macaroni Penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula region?

Answer 8

• South Shetland Islands
• Elephant Island

Question 9

What were the objectives of the study?

Answer 9

• Estimate the total population of Macaroni Penguins in the Antarctic peninsula
• Identify local population changes
• Identify vagrant sightings

Question 10

Vagrant

Answer 10

Non-breeding penguins sighted at locations where they have not previously been documented to breed

Question 11

What causes vagrancy in birds?

Answer 11

Navigational errors in younger inexperienced birds

Question 12

What methods were utilized to conduct the study?

Answer 12

• Added most recently available counts at all known breeding colonies
• Calculated % change in oldest available counts and most recent counts at individual colonies
• Documented and listed vagrant sightings for the region

Question 13

How many breeding pairs were estimated based off of the 1993 census?

Answer 13

8,053 Pairs

Question 14

Where did the majority of Macaroni Penguins breed?

Answer 14

Elephant Island

Question 15

How many breeding pairs were located on South Shetland Island?

Answer 15

7 Pairs

Question 16

How many breeding pairs were located on South Orkney Island?

Answer 16

22 Pairs

Question 17

What is the predicted behavior of Macaroni Penguins based off of the study?

Answer 17

Southward expansion

Question 18

What can happen as a result of changes in species distribution?

Answer 18

Increased infraspecific competition (for resources and space)

Question 19

What is a beneficial adaptation that can help Macaroni Penguins in times when food is scarce?

Answer 19

They can prey switch if krill is low (this could potentially make them more resilient to climate change)

Question 20

What are the conclusions of the study?

Answer 20

• Accuracy of the estimates are limited due to a lack of updated census data
• Need increased understanding of Macaroni Penguin demography and movement to make better predictions about the range of shifts under climate change
• Macaroni Penguin colonies may be capable of expanding to the South Pole as the Antarctic gets warmer