Annual population counts at selected Adelie Penguin colonies within the AAT

This indicator is no longer maintained, and is considered OBSOLETE.

INDICATOR DEFINITION

Breeding populations of Adelie penguins at Davis, Mawson and Casey (including Shirley Island and Whitney Point).

TYPE OF INDICATOR

There are three types of indicators used in this report:

1. Describes the CONDITION of important elements of a system;

2. Show the extent of the major PRESSURES exerted on a system;

3. Determine RESPONSES to either condition or changes in the condition of a system.

This indicator is one of: CONDITION

RATIONALE FOR INDICATOR SELECTION

The breeding population of Adelie penguins is related to resource availability (nesting space and food), behavioural mechanisms (immigration/emigration and breeding effort/success) in addition to climate change and human impacts (fisheries, tourism, pollution, disturbance). Monitoring these colonies and interpretation of the data provides information on changes in the Antarctic ecosystem.

DESIGN AND STRATEGY FOR INDICATOR MONITORING PROGRAM

Spatial scale: Colonies near Australian Stations -

Casey (lat 66 deg 16' 54.5" S, long 110 deg 31' 39.4" E)

Davis (lat 68 deg 34' 35.8" S, long 77 deg 58' 02.6" E)

Mawson (lat 67 deg 36' 09.7" S, long 62 deg 52' 25.7" E)

All colonies on -

Shirley Island (lat 66 deg 16' 55.9" S, long 110 deg 29' 17.9" E) and

Whitney Point (lat 66 deg 15' 08.6" S, long 110 deg 31' 40.1" E)

Frequency: Annual surveys at Shirley Island and Whitney Point. Other colonies every 2-3 years, depending on logistical constraints.

Measurement technique: Each colony is visited and all breeding birds are counted from the ground by two or three personnel performing replicate counts. Supplementary census data are obtained from oblique ground and aerial photographs. All breeding adults in a colony are counted.

Considerations regarding disturbance associated with census visits are also incorporated into monitoring strategies. The lack of annual census data for some colonies does not reduce the value of these long-term monitoring programmes.

RESEARCH ISSUES

Adelie Penguin populations throughout East Antarctica have shown sustained, long-term increases for the past 30 or more years; in contrast, populations elsewhere around the Antarctic and on the Antarctic Peninsula have exhibited decreases or no clear long-term trends (Woehler et al. 2001). Greater coverage of colonies throughout the AAT would provide a more accurate estimate of the total annual breeding population in East Antarctica. In addition to basic inventory requirements, data on the population trends would contribute to a better understanding of the role of Adelie penguins in the Antarctic ecosystem, and provide managers with feedback or management strategies.

LINKS TO OTHER INDICATORS

Identification info

Alternate title: Annual population counts at selected Adelie Penguin colonies within the AAT

Date (Publication): 2001-05-16

Edition: 1

Originator

Woehler, E.J.

Publisher

Australian Antarctic Data Centre

Principal investigator

WOEHLER, ERIC

Birds Tasmania

Hobart

Tasmania

7001

Australia

Collaborator

WOEHLER, ERIC

Birds Tasmania

Hobart

Tasmania

7001

Australia

Name: CAASM Metadata

Website: https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/records/SOE_seabird_candidate_sp_AP

Status: Completed

Custodian

AU/AADC > Australian Antarctic Data Centre, Australia - AADC, DATA OFFICER (DATA CENTER CONTACT)

Australian Antarctic Division

203 Channel Highway

Kingston

Tasmania

7050

Australia

+61 3 6232 3244

+61 3 6232 3351 (facsimile)

Temporal resolution: P365D

Topic category

Biota
Oceans

Extent

Description: Temporal Coverage

Temporal extent

TimePeriod: 1959-01-01 2003-12-31

Title: Increased numbers of Adelie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae breeding near Casey, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica.

Date (Publication): 1990

Citation identifier: 14

Author

Martin, M.R., Johnstone, G.W. and Woehler, E.J.

Name: Corella

Page: 119-122

Title: The distribution of seabird biomass in the Australian Antarctic Territory: Implications for conservation.

Date (Publication): 1990

Citation identifier: 17

Author

Woehler, E.J.

Name: Environmental Conservation

Page: 256-261

Title: Status and conservation of the seabirds of the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Date (Publication): 1991

Author

Woehler, E.J. and Johnstone, G.W.

Name: In: Seabird status and conservation: a supplement.

Other citation details: Croxall, J.P. (ed.), ICBP Technical Publication 11, 279-308.

Title: The distribution, abundance and status of Adélie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae at the Windmill Islands, Wilkes Land, Antarctica.

Date (Publication): 1991

Citation identifier: 19

Author

Woehler, E.J., Slip, D.J., Robertson, L.M., Fullagar, P.J. and Burton, H.R.

Name: Marine Ornithology

Page: 1-18

Title: Antarctic seabirds: their status and conservation in the AAT.

Date (Publication): 1993

Citation identifier: 9

Author

Woehler, E.J.

Name: RAOU Conservation Statement

Page: 8

Title: Impacts of human visitors on breeding success and long-term population trends in Adelie Penguins at Casey, Antarctica.

Date (Publication): 1994

Citation identifier: 14

Author

Woehler, E.J., Penney, R.L., Creet, S.M. and Burton, H.R.

Name: Polar Biology

Page: 269-274

Title: A statistical assessment of the status and trends of Antarctic and Subantarctic seabirds.

Date (Publication): 2001

Author

Woehler, E.J., Cooper, J., Croxall, J.P., Fraser, W.R., Kooyman, G.L., Miller, G.D., Nel, D.C., Patterson, D.L., Peter, H.-U., Ribic, C.A., Salwicka, K. Trivelpiece, W.Z. and Weimerskirch, H.

Name: SCAR/NSF/CCAMLR

Page: 43