1. Mollie Ryan BI257: Winter Ecology
Winter Migration of Magellanic Penguins From the Southernmost Distributional Range
Mollie Ryan
BI257: Winter Ecology

2. General Info: The Subjects
22 magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) from Isla Martillo in the Beagle Channel, Argentina

3. General Info: The Study
Winter migration after molt
Satellite tracked a total of 22 penguins for three years
In 2004, seven penguins
In 2005, seven penguins
In 2006, eight penguins

4. General Info: Top Predator
One of the top predators in the Patagonian Shelf (the southernmost part of Argentina)
Breeding distribution is restricted to coastal locations between Cape Horn (southern tip of Chile) and 42°S (about halfway point of Argentina) and sites on Falkland Islands

5. General Info: Population
Total world population ~ 1 million breeding pairs
An additional 100,000 breeding pairs on Falkland Islands
Numbers have decreased at many breeding sites over the last part of the twentieth century

6. General Info: Population (cont’d)
Largest colony is found on Punta Tombo, Argentina
An important breeding colony is Isla Martillo in the Beagle Channel, Argentina
It is located at the boundary between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
One of the southernmost colonies

7. General Info: Population (cont’d)
Annual variability in breeding success related to changes in quality and quantity of diet and/or to weather conditions
Populations impacted by human-related factors:
Commercial fishing
Oil pollution
Disturbance due to tourism

8. Purpose of Study
Investigate winter migration patterns of these penguins originating from the southern range of their breeding distribution
Identify distribution of penguins
Identify potential conflicts with human activities

9. Materials and Methods
Fieldwork conducted at the magellanic penguin breeding colony on Isla Martillo
Comprised of about 2,000 breeding pairs
22 adults (10 females, 12 males) were randomly selected and attached with satellite transmitters
23 March 2004 – 7 penguins
22 March 2005 – 7 penguins
17 March 2006 – 8 penguins

10. Materials and Methods
Transmitters attached on the mid-line of the back using black tape and synthetic rubber glue
To minimize hydrodynamic drag:
In 2004, devices were attached as far distally as possible without impairing preen gland
In 2005 and 2006, devices were attached to the middle of the back to not compromise the penguins’ balance
Devices were then covered with a layer of quick epoxy

11. Materials and Methods
The KiwiSat 101 satellite transmitter had maximum dimensions of 130 x 35 x 20 mm
hydrodynamically-shaped
Powered by 2 AA lithium cells
Weighed about 100 g
Equivalent to 2.7% of mean penguin body mass of 3.7 ± 0.5 kg

12. Materials and Methods
To reduce further hydrodynamic drag, a flexible antenna protruded at an angle of 60° from the rear of the device
170 mm long and 3 mm in diameter
In 2006, along with five KiwiSat 101, three KiwiSat 202 were used
Each had maximum dimensions of 60 x 35 x 22 mm
Weighed about 60g
Equivalent to about 2% of the mean penguin body mass of 3.0 ± 0.4 kg

13. Various KiwiSat 101 transmitters

14. KiwiSat 202 transmitter for a penguin or small sea turtle

15. Materials and Methods
Devices were programmed to transmit on a cycle of 6 hr on / 18 hr off with a repetition period of 60 s
Equipped with a saltwater switch that prevented transmission while under water to conserve battery life
The KiwiSat 101 recorded and transmitted time penguins spent at the surface
Transmitter life: 84 days with 2 AA batteries

16. Results
A total of 1,340 daily positions were obtained from the 22 magellanic penguins
The mean minimum distance traveled by all penguins was 1,440 ± 685 km
The mean distance covered per day was 23.2 ± 6.6 km

17. Results Penguins spent 52.8 ± 6.3% of their time at sea submerged
Sex-related differences were not found with regard to transmission duration and migratory parameters

18. Results All 22 penguins left Beagle Channel in an easterly direction
Most (except for three) penguins traveled around the southeasterly tip of South America into the Atlantic
They headed north and migrated along the Argentine coast until transmission ceased
Migratory behavior was decomposed into periods of rapid movement in a northerly direction, interspersed with periods, during which the birds remained for some time in a certain area

19. Migration routes in 2004 Fips = red (filled square)
Flo = green (filled diamond)
Fyjima = yellow (plus symbol)
Lu = pink (filled circle)
Miriam = blue (filled triangle)
Silvester = brown (rectangle)
WaRu = black (filled inverted triangle)

20. Migration routes in 2005 Biggi = black (filled circle)
Egregrius = red (rectangle)
Eva = brown (filled square)
Jennifer = pink (filled diamond)
Jupp = blue (filled triangle)
Schroder = green (filled inverted triangle)
The Boss = yellow (plus symbol)

21. Migration routes in 2006 Florian = blue (filled circle)
Gimmy = light blue (open rectangle)
Kira = brown (filled diamond)
Klaus = green (filled triangle)
NN1 = pink (filled inverted triangle)
NN2 = black (open rectangle)
NN3 = red (plus symbol)
Whitney = yellow (filled square)

22. Discussion: Impact of Transmitter?
The external attachment of devices is likely to have an impact on behavior
Likely an increase in hydrodynamic drag, which negatively impacts on a great variety of foraging parameters
This effect is more pronounced in transmitters equipped with an antenna, which increases hydrodynamic drag even more
After 2005, the position of the transmitters was moved further to the body center

23. Discussion: Impact of Transmitter?
All devices ceased transmission during migration
A possible reason:
Penguins detached satellite transmitter by biting and breaking the feathers attached to it

24. Discussion: Migration Patterns
Penguins originating from the Falkland Islands (51°S) remained exclusively in the Atlantic Ocean, then migrated northwards
One penguin migrated into the Pacific, but headed northwards as well
A north-bound winter migration appears to be a general feature for magellanic penguins

25. Discussion: Migration Patterns (cont’d)
Due to the temporal and spatial differences in their migration patterns, penguins experience qualitative and quantitative variations in food availability
However, nothing is known of a magellanic penguin diet during winter months

26. Discussion: Migration Patterns (cont’d)
Northbound migration can be related to decreasing sea temperatures, light levels and progressively impeding planktonic growth in more southerly regions as season progressed
Migration is driven by formation and subsequent dissipation of areas with enhanced food availability

27. Discussion: Human Activity Interactions
Magellanic penguins are increasingly exposed to human-related activities
Prey of the penguins is commercially exploited and population crashes may happen due to the poorly-managed fisheries
There are mortalities associated with the fishing itself
Example: in Puerto Quequen, Argentina, 100 magellanic penguins die each year as bycatch in coastal fishing

28. Discussion: Human Activity Interactions (cont’d)
Oil pollution is a much more obvious effect on penguin survival
In 1991, about 15,000 magellanic penguins died as a consequence of one single oil incident
Each year, more than 40,000 penguins die each along the Argentine coast of Chubut due to chronic oil pollution
Magellanic penguin breeding population located in the northern distributional range has decreased a lot over the past decade which greatly indicates harmful interaction with human activities

29. Conclusions
Winter migration after molt was satellite tracked for three years
Potential impact of transmitters on behavior
Northward migration during winter is related to decreasing sea temperatures, light levels, and food availability
Harmful human activity interactions include poorly-managed fisheries, fishing gear, and oil pollution
These decrease breeding populations in the northern distributional range

30. Putz, K. , Schiavini, A. , Rey, A. R. , and B. Luthi. 2007
Putz, K., Schiavini, A., Rey, A.R., and B. Luthi Winter migration of magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) from the southernmost distributional range. Mar Biol 152:
Thank you! Questions?