Breeding ecology of the gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua at Kerguelen Archipelago

• Published in: Polar Biology
• Main Authors: Lescroel, Amélie, Bajzak, Catherine, Bost, Charles-André
• Other Authors: Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2009
• Subjects: Life-history traits; Sub-Antarctic islands; Breeding phenology; Foraging; Sex differences; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; [SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environment and Society; Antarctic; Kerguelen; Antarc*; Gentoo penguin; Polar Biology; Pygoscelis papua
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00527104; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-009-0647-9

International audience The gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) is one of the most widespread penguin species and has been proven to be highly plastic in many aspects of its ecology. However, data from their sub-Antarctic range suggest an unexplained decline of their populations over the last 10–20 years, stressing the need for additional knowledge on their breeding ecology and demography. The present study provides insights into the breeding ecology of the gentoo penguin at a major breeding site, Kerguelen Archipelago, over three breeding seasons (1987, 2002 and 2003). Similarly to other northern populations, gentoo penguins breeding at Kerguelen exhibited winter laying, slow provisioning rate, slow growth rate associated with an extended rearing period and relatively low breeding success compared to southern populations. Our study also revealed interannual differences in the timing of laying and growth parameters as well as unusual sex differences in parental investment. Despite their high plasticity, there are indications that gentoo penguins at the northern edge of their range might work at the upper limit of their capacities. Sub-Antarctic populations would, therefore, be more sensitive to environmental changes than more southerly ones and need to be closely monitored.