Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T04:05:43.846Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Age and taphonomy of abandoned penguin rookeries in the Antarctic Peninsula region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

Steven D. Emslie
Steven D. Emslie
Affiliation:
Department of Sciences, Western State College, Gunnison, CO 81231, USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Investigations on the age and taphonomy of modern and abandoned penguin rookeries were completed in the Antarctic Peninsula region, 1992–1994. Systematic collection and identification of bones from modern rookeries of Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (P. antarctica), and gentoo (P. papua) penguins indicate a bias in element preservation for humeri, furcula, femora, and tibiotarsi. More than 73% of the individuals represented by these elements are juveniles. Bones from abandoned rookeries show similar patterns that can help identify old breeding sites and the species that occupied them. Radiocarbon dates completed on 13 chinstrap and Adélie penguin bones, feathers, and eggshell fragments from five abandoned rookeries suggest that occupation of these sites occurred only during warm intervals of the Little Ice Age (AD 1500–1850). These data also provide information on the paleoecology and paleobiogeography of penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula region, which help explain modern distribution patterns and demography.

Type
Articles
Information
Polar Record , Volume 31 , Issue 179 , October 1995 , pp. 409 - 418
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baroni, C., and Orombelli, G.. 1991. Holocene raised beaches at Terra Nova Bay, Victoria Land, Antarctica. Quaternary Research 36: 157–177.Google Scholar
Baroni, C., and Orombelli, G.. 1994. Abandoned penguin rookeries as Holocene paleoclimatic indicators in Antarctica. Geology 22: 23–26.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Björck, S. H.Hjort, Christian, Ingölfsson, Ö., and Skog, G.. 1991. Radiocarbon dates from the Antarctic Peninsula region — problems and potential. Quaternary Proceedings 1: 55–65.Google Scholar
Bochenski, Z. 1985. Remains of subfossil birds from King George Island (South Shetland Islands). Acta Zoologica Cracov 29: 109–116.Google Scholar
Clarke, M.R. 1986. A handbook for the identification of cephalopod beaks. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Google Scholar
Domack, E.W., Mashiotta, T.A., and Burkley, L.A.. 1993. 300-year cyclicity in organic matter preservation in Antarctic fjord sediments. Antarctic Research Series 60: 265–272.Google Scholar
Emslie, S.D., Karnovsky, N., and Trivelpiece, W.. 1995. Avian predation at penguin colonies on King George Island, Antarctica. Wilson Bulletin 107: 317–327.Google Scholar
Fraser, W.R., Trivelpiece, W.Z., Ainley, D.G., and Trivelpiece, S.G.. 1992. Increases in Antarctic penguin populations: reduced competition with whales or a loss of sea ice due to environmental warming? Polar Biology 11: 525–531.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grove, J.M. 1988. The Little Ice Age. London: Methuen.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harrington, H.J., and McKellar, I.C.. 1958. A radiocarbon date for penguin colonization of Cape Hallett, Antarctica. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 1: 571–576.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heine, J.C., and Speir, T.W.. 1989. Ornithogenic soils of the Cape Bird Adélie penguin rookeries, Antarctica. Polar Biology 10: 89–99.Google Scholar
Howard, H. 1929. The avifauna of Emeryville shell mound. University of California Publications in Zoology 32: 301–394.Google Scholar
Jablonski, B. 1984. Distribution and numbers of penguins in the region of King George Island, South Shetland Islands in the breeding season 1980/81. Polish Polar Research 5: 17–30.Google Scholar
Meese, D.A., and others. 1994. The accumulation record from the GISP2 core as an indicator of climate change throughout the Holocene. Science 266: 1680–1682.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moors, P.J., Speir, T.W., and Lyon, G.L.. 1988. Soil analyses and 13C/12C ratios identify sites of deserted rockhopper penguin colonies. Auk 105: 796–799.Google Scholar
Mosley-Thompson, E., Thompson, L.G., Grootes, P.M., and Gunderstrup, N.. 1990. Little Ice Age (neoglacial) paleoenvironmental conditions at Siple Station, Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology 14: 199–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Myrcha, A. S.Pietr, J., and Tatur, A.. 1985. The role of pygoscelid penguin rookeries in nutrient cycles at Admiralty Bay, King George Island. In: Siegfried, W.R., Condy, P.R., and Laws, R.M. (editors). Antarctic nutrient cycles and food webs. New York: Springer: 156–162.Google Scholar
Nesis, K.N. 1987. Cephalopods of the world. Neptune City, New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications.Google Scholar
Parmelee, D.F. 1992. Antarctic birds. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.Google Scholar
Ridgway, S.H. (editor). 1972. Mammals of the sea. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas.Google Scholar
Simpson, G.G. 1946. Fossil penguins. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 87: 1–99.Google Scholar
Speir, T.W., and Cowling, J.C.. 1984. Ornithogenic soils of the Cape Bird Adélie penguin rookeries, Antarctica. 1. Chemical properties. Polar Biology 2: 199–205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Speir, T.W., and Heine, J.C.. 1982. Penguin guano, decomposition and influence on soil development. New Zealand Soil Bureau Record 83: 1–39.Google Scholar
Speir, T.W., and Ross, D.J.. 1984. Ornithogenic soils of the Cape Bird Adélie penguin rookeries, Antarctica. 2. Ammonia evolution and enzyme activities. Polar Biology 2: 207–212.Google Scholar
Spellerbergberg, I.F. 1970. Abandoned penguin rookeries near Cape Royds, Ross Island, Antarctica and 14C dating of penguin remains. New Zealand Journal of Science 13: 380–385.Google Scholar
Stonehouse, B. 1970. Recent climatic change in Antarctica suggested from 14C dating of penguin remains. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 7: 341–343.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M., Pearson, G.W., and Braziunas, T.. 1986. Radiocarbon age calibration of marine samples back to 9000 cal yr BP. Radiocarbon 28: 980–1021.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tatur, A. 1987. Fluorine in ornithogenic soils and minerals on King George Island, West Antarctica. Polish Polar Research 8: 65–74.Google Scholar
Tatur, A. 1989. Ornithogenic soils of the maritime Antarctic. Polish Polar Research 10: 481–532.Google Scholar
Tatur, A., and Myrcha, A.. 1989. Soils and vegetation in abandoned penguin rookeries (maritime Antarctic). Proceedings NIPR Symposium on Polar Biology 2: 181–189.Google Scholar
Taylor, R.H., Wilson, P.R., and Thomas, B.W.. 1990. Status and trends of Adélie penguin populations in the Ross Sea region. Polar Record 26: 293–304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, L.G., Mosley-Thompson, E., Dansgaard, W., and Grootes, P.M.. 1986. The Little Ice Age as recorded in the stratigraphy of the tropical Quelccaya Ice Cap. Science 234: 361–364.Google Scholar
Trivelpiece, W.Z., Bengston, J.L., Trivelpiece, S.G., and Trivelpiece, S.G.. 1990. Courtship period of Adélie, gentoo, and chinstrap penguins. In: Davis, L., and Darby, J. (editors). Penguin biology. New York: Academic Press: 113–127.Google Scholar
Trivelpiece, W.Z., Trivelpiece, S.G., Geupel, G. R., Kjelmyr, J., and Volkman, N.J.. 1990. Adélie and chinstrap penguins: their potential as monitors of the Southern Ocean marine ecosystem. In: Kerry, K.R., and Hempel, G. (editors). Antarctic ecosystems. Berlin: Springer-Verlag: 191–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trivelpiece, W.Z., Trivelpiece, S.G., and Volkman, N.J.. 1987. Ecological segregation of Adélie, gentoo, and chinstrap penguins at King George Island, Antarctica. Ecology 68: 351–361.Google Scholar
Trivelpiece, W.Z., and Volkman, N.J.. 1982. Feeding strategies of sympatric South Polar Catharacta maccormicki and brown skuas C. lonnbergi. Ibis 124: 50–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ugolini, F.C. 1972. Ornithogenic soils of Antarctica. Antarctic Research Series 20: 181–193.Google Scholar
Volkman, N.J., Presler, P., and Trivelpiece, W.Z.. 1980. Diets of pygoscelid penguins at King George Island, Antarctica. Condor 82: 373–378.Google Scholar
Volkman, N.J., and Trivelpiece, W.Z.. 1980. Growth in pygoscelid penguin chicks. Journal of Zoology 91: 521–530.Google Scholar
Volkman, N.J., and Trivelpiece, W.Z.. 1981. Nest-site selection among Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins in mixed species rookeries. Wilson Bulletin 93: 243–248.Google Scholar