Magellanic penguin mortality in 2008 along the SW Atlantic coast

• Published in: Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Main Authors: Garcia Borboroglu, Jorge Pablo, Boersma, P. Dee, Ruoppolo, Valeria, Pinho da Silva Filho, Rodolfo, Adornes Corrado, Andrea, Conte Sena, Daniella, Velozo, Raquel, Myiaji-Kolesnikovas, Cristiane, Dutra, Gustavo, Maracini, Pryscilla, Carvalho-do-Nascimento, Cláudia, Ramos-Júnior, Valdir, Barbosa, Lupércio, Serra, Sheila
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: CLIMATE VARIABILITY; EXTREME MIGRATION; HIGH MORTALITY; MAGELLANIC PENGUIN; OIL POLLUTION; SW ATLANTIC; Ecología; Ciencias Biológicas; CIENCIAS NATURALES Y EXACTAS; Argentina; Dee; Gustavo; Pablo; Patagonia; Ramos; Sheila; Uruguay; Orca
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/93525

Magellanic penguins migrate from Patagonia reaching northern Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil on their winter migration, in parallel with the seasonal pulse of anchovy spawning. In 2008, Magellanic penguins went further north than usual. Many died and a few swam nearly to the Equator. Twelve groups surveyed 5000. km of coastline encountering 3371 penguins along the coast. Most penguins arrived in northern Brazil (68.4%) without petroleum (2933, 87%). Almost all penguins without petroleum were juveniles (2915, 99%) and 55% were alive when found. Penguins were dehydrated, anemic, hypothermic, and emaciated. Of the penguins with petroleum, 13% arrived in the southern half of Brazil, showing that petroleum pollution remains a problem along the SW Atlantic coast. The mortality occurred in the winter of 2008 when sea surface temperature were unusually cold perhaps reducing the prey for penguins. Fil: Garcia Borboroglu, Jorge Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina. University of Washington, Seattle; Estados Unidos. Global Penguin Society (GPS); Estados Unidos Fil: Boersma, P. Dee. University of Washington, Seattle; Estados Unidos. Global Penguin Society (GPS); Estados Unidos Fil: Ruoppolo, Valeria. International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW); Estados Unidos Fil: Pinho-da-Silva-Filho, Rodolfo. Centro de Recuperação de Animais Marinhos (CRAM – MO/FURG), Rio Grande, Brasil Fil: Corrado-Adornes, Andréa. Centro de Recuperação de Animais Marinhos (CRAM – MO/FURG), Rio Grande, Brasil Fil: Conte-Sena, Daniella. IBAMA SUPES, São Paulo; Brasil Fil: Velozo, Raquel. Instituto Mamíferos Acuáticos, Salvador; Brasil Fil: Myiaji-Kolesnikovas, Cristiane. R3 Animal, Florianópolis; Brasil Fil: Dutra, Gustavo. Aquário Municipal de Santos; Brasil Fil: Maracini, Pryscilla. Aquário do Guaruja (Acquamundo); Brasil Fil: Carvalho-do-Nascimento, Cláudia. CETAS UNIMONTE, Santos; Brasil Fil: Ramos-Júnior, Valdir. Fundação RioZoo, Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Barbosa, Lupércio. Instituto Orca, Vila Velha; Brasil Fil: Serra, Sheila. Instituto Mamíferos Acuáticos, Salvador; Brasil