Foraging behaviour of emperor penguins as a resource detector in winter and summer

Ancel, André; Kooyman, Gerald L.; Ponganis, Paul J.; Gendner, J.-P.; Lignon, J.; Mestre, X.; Huin, Nicolas; Thorson, Philip H.; Robisson, Patrice; Maho, Yvon Le

doi:10.1038/360336a0

Cited by 124 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The significance of trough clearout events is corroborated by winter observations of emperor penguins satellite-tracked from Pointe Géologie by Ancel et al (1992) and Rodary et al (2000). In early August 1997, Rodary et al (2000 noted that foraging activity of females was con- Fig.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

“…Similarly, the relatively large distances travelled in 1990 coincided with the lack of a major trough clearout (at least over the 3 wk tracking period) (Ancel et al 1992), and could have again contributed to the low breeding success of 15.5% in that year.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When the chick is thermally emancipated (~50 d old), it enters a crêche. From July at Pointe Géologie, both parents take turns to nurture the chick, with the non-carer shuttling between the colony and the fast ice edge for food (Ancel et al 1992, Rodary et al 2000, Zimmer et al 2007). The duration of their return journey depends on the extent of the surrounding fast ice.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fast ice distribution in Adélie Land, East Antarctica: interannual variability and implications for emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri

Massom¹,

Hill²,

Barbraud³

et al. 2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

113

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Antarctic fast ice is of key climatic and ecological importance, yet its distribution and variability are poorly understood. We present a detailed analysis of fast ice along the Adélie Land coast (East Antarctica) using satellite data from 1992 to 1999. Fast ice formation along this coastline is intimately linked to grounded iceberg distribution in waters of < 350 m depth. Considerable interannual variability occurs in areal extent and formation/break-up; the variability is related to wind direction. Distance to the fast ice edge and its extent are major determinants of emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri breeding success at Pointe Géologie. Of crucial importance are the frequency and duration of fast ice break-out events in the deep-water trough north-northwest of the colony. Successful penguin breeding seasons in 1993, 1998 and 1999 ([number of fledged chicks in late November / number of breeding pairs] > 75% success) coincided with lower-than-average fast ice extents and persistently short distances to nearest open water (foraging grounds), and corresponded to a strong positive phase of the Southern Annular Mode. Poor breeding seasons in 1992, 1994 and 1995 (success <15%) coincided with average to slightly higher-than-average ice extents and persistently long distances to foraging grounds. Poor-to-moderate breeding years (success ~40 to 50%), e.g. 1996 and 1997, occurred with above-average ice extents combined with fairly long distances from breeding to foraging grounds during the chick nurturing season. The overall correlation between breeding success and distance was high (r 2 = 0.89), albeit based on a limited number of years (n = 8). Substantially less fast ice was present in two Argon satellite photographs taken in August and October 1963. This coincided with a highly successful breeding season and appears to have been related to stronger and more southerly winds.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fast ice distribution in Adélie Land, East Antarctica: interannual variability and implications for emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri

Massom¹,

Hill²,

Barbraud³

et al. 2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

113

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“…Emperor penguins' foraging cycle is almost continuous after moulting in January to prepare for the breeding season [31]. In April, at the start of the breeding season, penguins weigh 30-40 kg, with lipid mass accounting for up to 25% of body mass [32,33]. At this time, feather density will be lowest, and increased subcutaneous fat will provide more insulation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At this time, feather density will be lowest, and increased subcutaneous fat will provide more insulation. Over the next three months, body mass can drop 35-50% in the fasting male [32][33][34], with 80-90% of the loss owing to subcutaneous fat reduction [32]. The resulting reduction in girth and surface area will increase feather density without changing the number of feathers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidden keys to survival: the type, density, pattern and functional role of emperor penguin body feathers

2015

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Antarctic penguins survive some of the harshest conditions on the planet. Emperor penguins breed on the sea ice where temperatures drop below 2408C and forage in 21.88C waters. Their ability to maintain 388C body temperature in these conditions is due in large part to their feathered coat. Penguins have been reported to have the highest contour feather density of any bird, and both filoplumes and plumules (downy feathers) are reported absent in penguins. In studies modelling the heat transfer properties and the potential biomimetic applications of penguin plumage design, the insulative properties of penguin plumage have been attributed to the single afterfeather attached to contour feathers. This attribution of the afterfeather as the sole insulation component has been repeated in subsequent studies. Our results demonstrate the presence of both plumules and filoplumes in the penguin body plumage. The downy plumules are four times denser than afterfeathers and play a key, previously overlooked role in penguin survival. Our study also does not support the report that emperor penguins have the highest contour feather density.

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“Bio‐logging” as a Tool to Study and Monitor Marine Ecosystems, or How to Spy on Sea Creatures

Tremblay¹,

Bertrand²

2016

Tools for Oceanography and Ecosystemic Modeling

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Foraging behaviour of emperor penguins as a resource detector in winter and summer

Cited by 124 publications

References 5 publications

Fast ice distribution in Adélie Land, East Antarctica: interannual variability and implications for emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri

Fast ice distribution in Adélie Land, East Antarctica: interannual variability and implications for emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri

Hidden keys to survival: the type, density, pattern and functional role of emperor penguin body feathers

“Bio‐logging” as a Tool to Study and Monitor Marine Ecosystems, or How to Spy on Sea Creatures

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