Winter ground segregation between two neighboring breeding penguins

• Main Authors: 3rd World Seabird Conference 2021, Barrionuevo, Melina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Underline Science Inc. 2021
• Subjects: Animal Science; Ornithology; Emerging Technologies; Antarctic; Antarctic Ocean; Argentina; Pingüino; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48448/1yyj-ba92; https://underline.io/lecture/34684-winter-ground-segregation-between-two-neighboring-breeding-penguins

Abstract: Knowledge of the dispersion of seabirds during migration may provide information on predictable foraging areas, potential overlap with human activities and target conservation zones. The aim of this study was to analyze spatial distribution of Southern rockhoppers penguins -RP- (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) and Magellanic penguins -MP- (Spheniscus magellanicus) during migration. We used geolocators (MK3 & MK4) to study migration movements of 10 RP breeding at Isla Pingüino (47°54'S; 65°43'W) and 20 MP breeding at Isla Quiroga (47°45'S, 65°53°W), Argentina, during 2019. We found that both male and female RP moved north, reaching the northern Uruguayan coast (32°30'), but southward, males traveled farther than females, reaching latitudes as far south as the Antarctic ocean. Males spend 33% of their time, while females only spend 7% of their time south of their breeding colony. Males dispersed more than females: latitudinal length (distance between northernmost and southernmost points) was 2250 km for females and 3250 km for males, and area according to the 50% Kernel density contour was threefold larger for males than for females. Males traveled farther offshore than females (190 km males vs. 145 km females) and spent more time in colder waters than females. Migration movements of MP have been described previously and were similar to RP female dispersion, but very different from RP males distribution. Latitudinal length for PM was 2100 km and they used warmer waters than RP. Area overlap (50% Kernel contour) between RP and MP was about 40-60% during April-May; 30% in June-July and no overlap in August. Female RP were exclusively responsible for these shared areas because male RP were farther south and farther offshore, even beyond the continental shelf. Different diets and breeding schedules might be responsible for the segregation between species. This study shows sexual segregation in RP at latitudinal and longitudinal levels, and an overlap between MP and female RP winter areas. Authors: melina barrionuevo¹, Annick Morgenthaler², Ana Millones², Nahuel Marchisio¹, Esteban Frere¹ ¹UNPA-CONICET, ²UNPA