Activity rhythms at a gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) colony at Cierva Point, Antarctic Peninsula

• Main Authors: Quintana, R.D., Pratolongo, P.D., Agraz, J.L., Benítez, O., Mengual, A.R.
• Format: Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Activity rhythms; Antarctic Peninsula; Circadian clock; Daily activity; Gentoo penguin; Pygoscelis papua; activity pattern; circadian rhythm; environmental cue; seabird; Antarctica; Arctic and Antarctic; Cierva Point; West Antarctica; World; Spheniscidae; Antarc*; Antarctic; Arctic
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00294470_v52_n3_p133_Quintana

We studied activity rhythms at a gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) colony at Cierva Point, Antarctic Peninsula, during the 1992-93 summer. We counted the number of penguins crossing a specific point on their route to and from the colony. Penguins showed a strong daily rhythm of activity, with a two-peak pattern for those leaving the colony and a one-peak pattern for those returning. The peak of penguins departing to sea was at dawn, with a secondary peak in the afternoon which was coincident with the peak of returns. Although this behaviour could be explained by nest relief schedules, the pattern remained once crèches had formed. The main peak of departures strongly correlated with sunrise, which might support the existence of a light signal synchronizing activity. Even though an external factor could be triggering movements, an endogenous circadian clock might drive both patterns. © The Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Inc. 2005. Fil:Quintana, R.D. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Pratolongo, P.D. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.