How do weather conditions affect the huddling behaviour of emperor penguins ?

• Main Authors: Gilbert, Caroline, Robertson, Graham, Le Maho, Yvon, Ancel, André
• Other Authors: Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie (DEPE-IPHC), Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC), Université Louis Pasteur - Strasbourg I-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Louis Pasteur - Strasbourg I-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Energy
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2008
• Subjects: Huddling behaviour · Ambient temperatures · Wind speed · Emperor penguin · Antarctica; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; [SDV.BID.EVO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE]; Pointe-Géologie; Antarc*; Antarctica; Emperor penguins; Polar Biology
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00358047

International audience Huddling allows emperor penguins to conserve energy and survive their long winter fast while facing harsh climatic conditions. Here we report the Wrst investigation into the eVects of changes in wind speed and ambient temperature on diVerent components of penguin huddling behaviour. We attached light and temperature recorders to male emperor penguins at the Pointe Géologie colony, Antarctica, which recorded huddling events. We then compared the frequency, duration, occurrence and intensity of huddling bouts, with ambient air temperatures and wind speeds. Huddling occurrence increased with lower ambient temperatures and higher wind speeds, whereas huddling intensity was mainly enhanced by lower ambient temperatures. Moreover, huddling group movements were linked to wind direction and its global density to lower ambient temperatures. Hence, emperor penguins complex huddling behaviour was modulated diVerently depending on these two parameters. Weather conditions may then aVect emperor penguins ability to save energy and survive their winter fast.