Short-term responses of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus to helicopter disturbance at South Georgia
The short-term behavioural effects of helicopter overflights on breeding king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus at South Georgia were examined. Seventeen helicopter overflights were made at altitudes between 230 and 1,768 m (750-5,800 ft) above ground level. Noise from the aircraft engines and helico...
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Online Access: | https://kar.kent.ac.uk/15697/ https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0492-2 |
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ftkentuniv:oai:kar.kent.ac.uk:15697 2023-05-15T17:03:51+02:00 Short-term responses of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus to helicopter disturbance at South Georgia Hughes, Kevin A. Waluda, Claire M. Stone, Richard E. Ridout, Martin S. Shears, John R. 2008-11 https://kar.kent.ac.uk/15697/ https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0492-2 unknown Hughes, Kevin A., Waluda, Claire M., Stone, Richard E., Ridout, Martin S., Shears, John R. (2008) Short-term responses of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus to helicopter disturbance at South Georgia. Polar Biology, 31 (12). pp. 1521-1530. ISSN 0722-4060. (doi:10.1007/s00300-008-0492-2 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0492-2>) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:15697 </15697>) GE Environmental Sciences Article PeerReviewed 2008 ftkentuniv https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0492-2 2023-03-12T18:53:32Z The short-term behavioural effects of helicopter overflights on breeding king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus at South Georgia were examined. Seventeen helicopter overflights were made at altitudes between 230 and 1,768 m (750-5,800 ft) above ground level. Noise from the aircraft engines and helicopter blades increased sound levels in the colony from a background level of 65-69 dB(A) to a maximum mean peak level of 80 dB(A) during overflights. Penguin behaviour changed significantly during all overflights at all altitudes compared to the pre- and post-flight periods. Pre-overflight behaviour resumed within 15 min of the aircraft passing overhead and no chicks or eggs were observed to be taken by predators during overflights. Non-incubating birds showed an increased response with reduced overflight altitude, but this was not observed in incubating birds. Variability in overflight noise levels did not affect significantly the behaviour of incubating or non-incubating birds. Penguins exhibited a reduced response to overflights as the study progressed (despite later flights generally being flown at lower altitudes) suggesting some degree of habituation to aircraft. To minimise disturbance to king penguins we recommend a precautionary approach such that overflights are undertaken at the maximum altitude that is operationally practical, or preferably are avoided altogether. Article in Journal/Newspaper King Penguins Polar Biology University of Kent: KAR - Kent Academic Repository Polar Biology 31 12 1521 1530 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Kent: KAR - Kent Academic Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftkentuniv |
language |
unknown |
topic |
GE Environmental Sciences |
spellingShingle |
GE Environmental Sciences Hughes, Kevin A. Waluda, Claire M. Stone, Richard E. Ridout, Martin S. Shears, John R. Short-term responses of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus to helicopter disturbance at South Georgia |
topic_facet |
GE Environmental Sciences |
description |
The short-term behavioural effects of helicopter overflights on breeding king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus at South Georgia were examined. Seventeen helicopter overflights were made at altitudes between 230 and 1,768 m (750-5,800 ft) above ground level. Noise from the aircraft engines and helicopter blades increased sound levels in the colony from a background level of 65-69 dB(A) to a maximum mean peak level of 80 dB(A) during overflights. Penguin behaviour changed significantly during all overflights at all altitudes compared to the pre- and post-flight periods. Pre-overflight behaviour resumed within 15 min of the aircraft passing overhead and no chicks or eggs were observed to be taken by predators during overflights. Non-incubating birds showed an increased response with reduced overflight altitude, but this was not observed in incubating birds. Variability in overflight noise levels did not affect significantly the behaviour of incubating or non-incubating birds. Penguins exhibited a reduced response to overflights as the study progressed (despite later flights generally being flown at lower altitudes) suggesting some degree of habituation to aircraft. To minimise disturbance to king penguins we recommend a precautionary approach such that overflights are undertaken at the maximum altitude that is operationally practical, or preferably are avoided altogether. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hughes, Kevin A. Waluda, Claire M. Stone, Richard E. Ridout, Martin S. Shears, John R. |
author_facet |
Hughes, Kevin A. Waluda, Claire M. Stone, Richard E. Ridout, Martin S. Shears, John R. |
author_sort |
Hughes, Kevin A. |
title |
Short-term responses of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus to helicopter disturbance at South Georgia |
title_short |
Short-term responses of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus to helicopter disturbance at South Georgia |
title_full |
Short-term responses of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus to helicopter disturbance at South Georgia |
title_fullStr |
Short-term responses of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus to helicopter disturbance at South Georgia |
title_full_unstemmed |
Short-term responses of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus to helicopter disturbance at South Georgia |
title_sort |
short-term responses of king penguins aptenodytes patagonicus to helicopter disturbance at south georgia |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
https://kar.kent.ac.uk/15697/ https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0492-2 |
genre |
King Penguins Polar Biology |
genre_facet |
King Penguins Polar Biology |
op_relation |
Hughes, Kevin A., Waluda, Claire M., Stone, Richard E., Ridout, Martin S., Shears, John R. (2008) Short-term responses of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus to helicopter disturbance at South Georgia. Polar Biology, 31 (12). pp. 1521-1530. ISSN 0722-4060. (doi:10.1007/s00300-008-0492-2 <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0492-2>) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:15697 </15697>) |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0492-2 |
container_title |
Polar Biology |
container_volume |
31 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
1521 |
op_container_end_page |
1530 |
_version_ |
1766057807159754752 |