Breeding patterns of King Penguins on the Falkland Islands
Helen Otley A C , Andrea Clausen A , Darren Christie A , Nic Huin A and Klemens Pütz BA Falklands Conservation, PO Box 26, Stanley, Falkland Islands FIQQ 1ZZ, UK.
B Antarctic Research Trust, PO Box 685, Stanley, Falkland Islands FIQQ 1ZZ, UK.
C Corresponding author. Email: heleno@southcom.com.au
Emu 107(2) 156-164 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU06027
Submitted: 11 June 2006 Accepted: 8 May 2007 Published: 21 June 2007
Abstract
The breeding biology of the King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) has been investigated in detail at sites across its circum-subantarctic range, except at its most temperate location, the Falkland Islands. Aspects of the breeding biology of King Penguins, including timing of laying, brooding and fledging and the length of shifts during incubation and brooding, were studied in the Falkland Islands during the 2001–02 breeding season. The first peak in numbers of pre-nuptial moulting individuals occurred during October and eggs were laid from early November to mid-March. Incubation shifts lasted 10–18 days, and shifts undertaken during the 34-day brooding period were 4–9 days in duration. Foraging trips during the early crèching period were 4–16 days in duration. Chicks that hatched before 22 January reached a mean asymptotic body mass of 8.8 kg in April, while later-hatched chicks increased in mass until July but reached a significantly lower body mass of 7.7 kg. Survival of chicks over winter was high (89%), which may be associated with lower rates of avian predation and less severe weather conditions in the Falkland Islands compared with other breeding sites. Chicks began fledging in mid-November. Late breeders who laid in January and February had a high rate of breeding success. Further research is required at this most temperate colony to confirm the early timing of breeding and the high success rates of early and late breeding attempts.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks go to Smith Brothers for allowing access to the site, to G. and J. Smith for safety communications and to T. McKeown and R. Harris who assisted with the fieldwork. Transport and logistical assistance provided by D. Broughton, T. Smith, S. Halford, P. Watts, D. Eynon and B. Stewart was greatly appreciated. R. Roa provided statistical advice. The project was generously supported by Rotterdam Zoo and the Mount Pleasant Complex Charity.
Adams, N. J. (1987). Foraging range of King Penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus during summer at Marion Island. Journal of Zoology 212, 475–482.
Bost, C.-A. , Charrassin, J. B. , Clerquin, Y. , Ropert-Coudert, Y. , and Le Maho, Y. (2004). Exploitation of distant marginal ice zones by King Penguins during winter. Marine Ecology Progress Series 283, 293–297.
Descamps, S. , Gauthier-Clerc, M. , Gender, J.-P. , and Le Maho, Y. (2002). The annual breeding cycle of unbanded King Penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus on Possession Island (Crozet). Avian Science 2, 1–12.
Le Bohec, C. , Gauthier-Clerc, M. , Gender, J.-P. , Chatelain, N. , and Le Maho, Y. (2003). Nocturnal predation of King Penguins by giant petrels on the Crozet Islands. Polar Biology 26, 587–590.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tremblay, Y. , and Cherel, Y. (2003). Geographic variation in the foraging behaviour, diet and chick growth of Rockhopper Penguins. Marine Ecology Progress Series 251, 279–297.
Weimerskirch, H. , Zotier, R. , and Jouventin, P. (1989). The avifauna of the Kerguelen Islands. Emu 89, 15–16.