Adélie penguin diet and climate change during the middle to late Holocene in northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula

Emslie, Steven D.; McDaniel, Jennifer D.

doi:10.1007/s00300-001-0334-y

Cited by 62 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…As such, it is not surprising that as climate dramatically warms along the WAP, Adélie penguin colonies at their northern range would be the first to show declines. A growing body of literature has highlighted Adélie penguin population response to Southern Ocean climate variability over geological time scales noting that during glacial retreat, particularly in association with warming trends following the Last Glacial Maximum (~18 000 years ago) and before and after the Little Ice Age (~150-300 years ago), numbers of individuals tended to increase and occupy new terrestrial breeding areas along the WAP (Emslie et al 1998, 2003, Emslie & McDaniel 2002 and other regions of the Antarctic (Millar et al 2012, Younger et al 2015, mainly driven by the exposure of new terrestrial breeding sites and favourable foraging conditions. The current extreme warming regime along the WAP, which has been associated with notable increases in snow precipitation, appears to be similar to historical periods of glacial advance, when numbers of penguins were smaller, as suitable terrestrial nesting habitats have diminished as a result of increased snow cover (Fraser et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genetic structure and gene flow of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding throughout the western Antarctic Peninsula

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) are responding to ocean–climate variability throughout the marine ecosystem of the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) where some breeding colonies have declined by 80%. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers were used to understand historical population genetic structure and gene flow given relatively recent and continuing reductions in sea ice habitats and changes in numbers of breeding adults at colonies throughout the WAP. Genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure, genetic signatures of fluctuations in population demography and gene flow were assessed in four regional Adélie penguin colonies. The analyses indicated little genetic structure overall based on bi-parentally inherited microsatellite markers (FST =-0.006–0.004). No significant variance was observed in overall haplotype frequency (mtDNA ΦST =0.017; P=0.112). Some comparisons with Charcot Island were significant, suggestive of female-biased philopatry. Estimates of gene flow based on a two-population coalescent model were asymmetrical from the species’ regional core to its northern range. Breeding Adélie penguins of the WAP are a panmictic population and hold adequate genetic diversity and dispersal capacity to be resilient to environmental change.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genetic structure and gene flow of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding throughout the western Antarctic Peninsula

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the first scenario, climate change may result in changes to the overall numbers of penguins and their ranges, whereas in the second scenario, individual nesting sites could be locally relocated or abandoned even when the population is of constant size and the overall range is unchanged (Tatur et al, 1997). There is evidence for local shifts of Pygoscelid colonies in response to sea level changes across their distributions (Stonehouse, 1970b;Myrcha & Tatur, 1991;Baroni & Orombelli, 1994b;Tatur et al, 1997;Emslie et al, 1998;Emslie & McDaniel, 2002;Emslie & Woehler, 2005). However, here we will focus on changes in the overall abundance and distribution of these species in response to largescale climate changes.…”

Section: Ice-free Breeding Speciesthe Pygoscelis Penguinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of historical climate changes on Southern Ocean marine predator populations: a comparative analysis

Younger

Emmerson

Miller

2015

Global Change Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Southern Ocean ecosystem is undergoing rapid physical and biological changes that are likely to have profound implications for higher-order predators. Here, we compare the long-term, historical responses of Southern Ocean predators to climate change. We examine palaeoecological evidence for changes in the abundance and distribution of seabirds and marine mammals, and place these into context with palaeoclimate records in order to identify key environmental drivers associated with population changes. Our synthesis revealed two key factors underlying Southern Ocean predator population changes; (i) the availability of ice-free ground for breeding and (ii) access to productive foraging grounds. The processes of glaciation and sea ice fluctuation were key; the distributions and abundances of elephant seals, snow petrels, gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins all responded strongly to the emergence of new breeding habitat coincident with deglaciation and reductions in sea ice. Access to productive foraging grounds was another limiting factor, with snow petrels, king and emperor penguins all affected by reduced prey availability in the past. Several species were isolated in glacial refugia and there is evidence that refuge populations were supported by polynyas. While the underlying drivers of population change were similar across most Southern Ocean predators, the individual responses of species to environmental change varied because of species specific factors such as dispersal ability and environmental sensitivity. Such interspecific differences are likely to affect the future climate change responses of Southern Ocean marine predators and should be considered in conservation plans. Comparative palaeoecological studies are a valuable source of long-term data on species' responses to environmental change that can provide important insights into future climate change responses. This synthesis highlights the importance of protecting productive foraging grounds proximate to breeding locations, as well as the potential role of polynyas as future Southern Ocean refugia.

show abstract

“…We have had little to say about how climate change might have direct effects on the food web and ultimately the populations of Antarctic penguin species (see also Siniff et al [2008] for similar points made in regard to Antarctic pack ice seals). In regard to our analyses here, as noted by Croxall et al (2002), the food web topic is far too complex with insufficient data presently available and involves perhaps decreases in certain prey (e.g., Antarctic silverfish [Pleuragramma antarctica] and Antarctic krill [Euphausia superba] and related species; Emslie and McDaniel 2002, Atkinson et al 2004, Ducklow et al 2007, Cheung et al 2008) and increases in others, particularly in coastal, continental shelf areas, especially with larger, more persistent polynyas (favoring, e.g., crystal krill [E. crystallorophias], and therefore their main predator, silverfish; La Mesa et al 2004, Deibel andDaly 2007).…”

Section: Final Thoughtsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antarctic penguin response to habitat change as Earth's troposphere reaches 2°C above preindustrial levels

Ainley

Russell

Jenouvrier

et al. 2010

Ecological Monographs

161

204

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We assess the response of pack ice penguins, Emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri) and Ade´lie (Pygoscelis adeliae), to habitat variability and, then, by modeling habitat alterations, the qualitative changes to their populations, size and distribution, as Earth's average tropospheric temperature reaches 28C above preindustrial levels (ca. 1860), the benchmark set by the European Union in efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. First, we assessed models used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) on penguin performance duplicating existing conditions in the Southern Ocean. We chose four models appropriate for gauging changes to penguin habitat: GFDL-CM2.1, GFDL-CM2.0, MIROC3.2(hi-res), and MRI-CGCM2.3.2a. Second, we analyzed the composited model ENSEMBLE to estimate the point of 28C warming and the projected changes to sea ice coverage (extent, persistence, and concentration), sea ice thickness, wind speeds, precipitation, and air temperatures. Third, we considered studies of ancient colonies and sediment cores and some recent modeling, which indicate the (space/time) large/centennialscale penguin response to habitat limits of all ice or no ice. Then we considered results of statistical modeling at the temporal interannual-decadal scale in regard to penguin response over a continuum of rather complex, meso-to large-scale habitat conditions, some of which have opposing and others interacting effects. The ENSEMBLE meso/decadal-scale output projects a marked narrowing of penguins' zoogeographic range at the 28C point. Colonies north of 708 S are projected to decrease or disappear: ;50% of Emperor colonies (40% of breeding population) and ;75% of Ade´lie colonies (70% of breeding population), but limited growth might occur south of 738 S. Net change would result largely from positive responses to increase in polynya persistence at high latitudes, overcome by decreases in pack ice cover at lower latitudes and, particularly for Emperors, ice thickness. Ade´lie Penguins might colonize new breeding habitat where concentrated pack ice diverges and/or disintegrating ice shelves expose coastline. Limiting increase will be decreased persistence of pack ice north of the Antarctic Circle, as this species requires daylight in its wintering areas. Ade´lies would be affected negatively by increasing snowfall, predicted to increase in certain areas owing to intrusions of warm, moist marine air due to changes in the Polar Jet Stream.

show abstract

Adélie penguin diet and climate change during the middle to late Holocene in northern Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula

Cited by 62 publications

References 27 publications

Population genetic structure and gene flow of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding throughout the western Antarctic Peninsula

Population genetic structure and gene flow of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding throughout the western Antarctic Peninsula

The influence of historical climate changes on Southern Ocean marine predator populations: a comparative analysis

Antarctic penguin response to habitat change as Earth's troposphere reaches 2°C above preindustrial levels

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About