Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T14:13:31.010Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2009

Barbara Wienecke
Barbara Wienecke*
Affiliation:
Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia ([email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri are 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’.

Type
Research Article
Information
Polar Record , Volume 45 , Issue 4 , October 2009 , pp. 304 - 312
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. 2008. Management plan for Antarctic specially protected area 169, Amanda Bay, Ingrid Christensen Coast, Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica. Kyiv: Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting XXXI (measure 3 (2008), annex A).Google Scholar
Anon. (Anonymous). 1961. General report on air operations, 1956–1961. Melbourne: Antarctic Division, Department of External Affairs.Google Scholar
Barber-Meyer, S., Kooyman, G.L., and Ponganis, P.J.. 2007. Estimating the relative abundance of emperor penguins at inaccessible colonies using satellite imagery. Polar Biology 30:1565–1570.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Budd, G.M. 1961. The biotopes of emperor penguin rookeries. Emu 61: 171–189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Budd, G.M. 1962. Population studies in rookeries of the emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri. Proceedings of the Zoological Society, London 139: 365–389.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dingle, W. 1959. ANARE log – bird log Magga Dan, Wilkes Voyage. Kingston: Australian Antarctic Division archives (unpublished report).Google Scholar
Dugdale, M. 2001. Station leader report, Mawson 2001. Kingston: Australian Antarctic Division archives (unpublished report).Google Scholar
Falla, R.A. 1937. Birds. London: BANZARE reports, Series B (2): 1–304.Google Scholar
Fisher, M.M. 1957. Survey report Mawson 1957. Kingston: Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (unpublished report).Google Scholar
Gilchrist, A. 1968. Bird log Nella Dan, 1967–1968, vol 1. 26 January 1968. Kingston: Austrailian Antarctic Division archives (unpublished ANARE log).Google Scholar
Henderson, D. 1953. The hidden coasts. New York: William Sloan Associates Publishers.Google Scholar
Horne, R.S.C. 1983. The distribution of penguin breeding colonies on the Australian Antarctic Territory, Heard Island, the McDonald Islands, and Macquarie Island. ANARE Research Notes 9: 8–13.Google Scholar
Jacka, F., and Jacka, E. (editors). 1988. Mawson's Antarctic diaries. Sydney: Allen and Unwin Australia.Google Scholar
Kato, A., and Ichikawa, H.. 1999. Breeding status of Adélie and emperor penguins in the Mt Riiser-Larsen area, Amundsen Bay. Polar Bioscience 12: 36–39.Google Scholar
Koblents, Y.P. 1965. Mapping of the Antarctic by foreign countries during the IGY. Soviet Antarctic Information Bulletin (English) 2: 75–77.Google Scholar
Korotkevich, Y.S. 1964. The distribution of Emperor penguins. Soviet Antarctic Expedition Information Bulletin (English) 4: 371–375.Google Scholar
Korotkevich, Y.S., and Ledenev, V.G.. 1962. Investigations in Enderby Land. Soviet Antarctic Expedition Information Bulletin (English) 2: 65–68.Google Scholar
Korotkevich, Y.S. 1964. The distribution of Emperor penguins. Soviet Antarctic Expedition Information Bulletin (English) 4: 371–375.Google Scholar
Kooyman, G.L., Hunke, E.C., Ackley, S.F., van Dam, R.P., and Robertson, G. 2000. Moult of the emperor penguin: travel, location, and habitat selection. Marine Ecology Progress Series 204: 269–277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Law, P. 1961. Australian coastal explorations in Antarctica, 1959. The Geographical Journal 127: 427–435.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mawson, D. 1915. The home of the blizzard. London: Wilhelm Heinemann.Google Scholar
Melick, D., and Bremmers, W. 1995. A recently discovered breeding colony of emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) on the Budd Coast, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica. Polar Record 31: 426–427.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MMF (Ministry of the Merchant Fleet). 1960. Map of the Leopold and Astrid Coast. Q44 XV, XVI. Scale 1:200,000. Moscow: Ministry of the Merchant Fleet.Google Scholar
MMF (Ministry of the Merchant Fleet). 1969. Maps of Antarctica, Sheet 6. Scale 1:3,000,000. Moscow: Ministry of the Merchant Fleet.Google Scholar
Newton, G. 1960. Biology log, Mawson 1960. Kingston: Australian Antarctic Division archives (unpublished log).Google Scholar
Pryor, M.E. 1964. Notes on the life history of the emperor penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri Gray, at Mirny Observatory, Antarctica, 1962. Soviet Antarctic Expedition Information Bulletin (English) 3: 183–184.Google Scholar
Pryor, M.E. 1968. The avifauna of Haswell Island, Antarctica. In: Austin, O.L. jr., (editor). Antarctic Bird Studies, Washington DC: American Geophysical Union (Antarctic Research Series 12): 57–82.Google Scholar
Sanchez, R.D., and Kooyman, G.L.. 2004. Advanced systems data for mapping emperor penguin habitats in Antarctica. Reston: US Geological Survey (open file report 2004–1379).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Splettstoesser, J.F., Gavrilo, M., Field, C., Field, C., Harrison, P., Messick, M., Oxford, P., and Todd, F.S.. 2000. Notes on Antarctic wildlife: Ross seals Ommatophoca rossii and emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 27: 137–142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stonehouse, B. 1953. The emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri Gray. I. Breeding behaviour and development. Cambridge: Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (scientific report 6: 1–33).Google Scholar
Tret'Yakov, N.F., and Mikheyev, O.F. 1972. Change in the front of some ice shelves of East Antarctica. Soviet Antarctic Expedition Information Bulletin (English) 8: 30–31.Google Scholar
Todd, F.S., Splettstoesser, J.F., Ledingham, R., and Gavrilo, M.. 1999. Observations in some emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri colonies in East Antarctica. Emu 99: 142–145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vanhöffen, E. 1905. Bericht über die bei der deutschen Südpolarexpedition beobachteten Vögel. Journal für Ornithologie 53: 500–515.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Von Drygalski, E. 1904. Zum Kontinent des eisigen Südens: Deutsche Südpolarexpeditionsfahrten und Forschung der Gauss 1901–1903. Berlin: Georg Reimer.Google Scholar
Wienecke, B., and Pedersen, P. 2009. Population estimates of emperor penguins at Amanda Bay, Ingrid Christensen Coast, Antarctica. Polar Record 45 (234): 207–214.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wienecke, B., Kirkwood, R., and Robertson, G.. 2004. Pre-moult foraging trips and moult locations of emperor penguins at the Mawson Coast. Polar Biology 27: 83–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilkes, C. 1845. Narrative of the United States exploring expedition during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. vol. 2. Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard.Google Scholar
Willing, R.L. 1958. Australian discoveries of emperor penguin rookeries in Antarctica during 1954–57. Nature 182: 1393–1394.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, G.J. 1983. Distribution and abundance of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguins: a synthesis of current knowledge. Cambridge: Scott Polar Research Institute (report compiled on behalf of the biomass working party on bird ecology).Google Scholar
Woehler, E.J. 1993. The distribution and abundance of Antarctic and Subantarctic penguins. Cambridge: Scott Polar Research Institute (report on half of the bird biology subcommittee of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research).Google Scholar