At-sea ecology of the Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) : Foraging strategies and evaluation of methodological and conservation tools

• Main Author: Houstin, Aymeric
• Other Authors: Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA)-Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA) Mulhouse - Colmar (Université de Haute-Alsace (UHA))-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université de Strasbourg, André Ancel
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2020
• Subjects: Biologging; Conservation; Distribution; At-sea ecology; Emperor penguin; MPA; Southern Ocean; Refinement; Foraging strategies; Écologie en mer; Manchot empereur; Océan Austral; Raffinement; Stratégies d’approvisionnement; [SDV.EE.ECO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology; environment/Ecosystems; [SDV.BA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Animal biology; Antarctic; Austral; Empereur; Manchot; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica; Antarctique*; Aptenodytes forsteri
• Online Access: https://theses.hal.science/tel-03505241; https://theses.hal.science/tel-03505241/document; https://theses.hal.science/tel-03505241/file/Houstin_Aymeric_2020_ED414.pdf

Iconic species used to raise public awareness, the Emperor penguin is first and foremost a top predator and umbrella species playing a pivotal role in Antarctic ecosystems. Standing at the forefront of climate upheavals, much remains to be learned about the ecology, distribution, and activities at sea of the species. Biologging allows to refine our understanding of the interactions between a species and the different components (biotic and abiotic) of its environment, in particular with a view of management, conservation, and assessment of the adaptive capacity of populations to face global change.In this study, we develop and share new equipment methods that increase equipment and data collection duration, while reducing the disturbance of the equipped individuals. By carrying out a spatio-temporal analysis of the data collected on individuals of different life-history stages, reproductive status, and from different colonies spanning around Antarctica, we investigate the species’ foraging behaviours and strategies and assess the influence of environmental conditions and habitat on these parameters. Such knowledge acquisition allows us to assess the degree of protection of the species at the scale of the Southern Ocean and to discuss strategic plans for conservation and management, such as the establishment of networks of Marine Protected Areas around the Antarctic continent. Espèce emblématique régulièrement utilisée pour sensibiliser le public, le manchot empereur est avant tout un prédateur supérieur ainsi qu’une espèce parapluie qui joue un rôle clé au sein des écosystèmes antarctiques. En première ligne face au changement climatique et ses conséquences, il reste cependant beaucoup à apprendre sur la répartition et les activités en mer de cette espèce. L’utilisation du biologging permet d’affiner la compréhension des interactions existant entre une espèce et les différentes composantes (biotiques et abiotiques) de son environnement dans un souci notamment de gestion, de conservation et d’estimation des ...