Menu

Volume 48, No. 2

Search by author or title:

Foraging ranges of Humboldt Penguins Spheniscus humboldti from Tilgo Island: the critical need for protecting a unique marine habitat.


Authors

RENÉ QUISPE1*, MIRIAM LERMA2, NICOLÁS LUNA1,3, MATÍAS PORTFLITT-TORO1,3, JUAN SERRATOSA1,3 & GUILLERMO LUNA-JORQUERA1,3
1Departamento Biología Marina, Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile *(rene.qv@gmail.com)
2Research and Technology Center (FTZ), University of Kiel, Hafentörn 1, 25761 Büsum, Germany
3Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands ESMOI, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile

Citation

QUISPE, R., LERMA, M., LUNA, N., PORTFLITT-TORO, M., SERRATOSA, J. & LUNA-JORQUERA, G. 2020. Foraging ranges of Humboldt Penguins Spheniscus humboldti from Tilgo Island: the critical need for protecting a unique marine habitat.. Marine Ornithology 48: 205 - 208
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.48.2.1374

Received 07 February 2020, accepted 01 July 2020

Date Published: 2020/10/15
Date Online: 2020/07/26
Key words: habitat degradation, breeding colony, penguin conservation, anthropogenic impact, parental care, coastal development

Abstract

The largest population of Humboldt Penguins resides in a fertile archipelago of the north-central coast of Chile, formed by eight islands in proximity to upwelling centers of the Humboldt Current System. However, five of these islands lack legal protection. Here, we report the results of breeding Humboldt Penguins tracked while foraging from Tilgo Island. The average and maximum foraging radii around the colony were 22 km and 43 km, respectively. Our data indicate that trip ranges overlap areas proposed for industrial projects. Because Humboldt Penguins are sentinels of local ecosystem health, this underscores the value of expanding conservation zones in this unique marine location.

References


ANCEL, A., BEAULIEU, M. & GILBERT, C. 2013. The different breeding strategies of penguins: A review. Comptes Rendus Biologies 336: 1-12. doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2013.02.002

ANGUITA, C. & SIMEONE, A. 2015. Influence of seasonal food availability on the dynamics of seabird feeding flocks at a coastal upwelling area. PLoS One 10: e0131327. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0131327

BOERSMA, P.D. 2008. Penguins as marine sentinels. BioScience 58: 597-607. doi:10.1641/B580707

BOERSMA, P.D., BORBOROGLU, P.G., GOWNARIS, N.J. ET AL. Applying science to pressing conservation needs for penguins. Conservation Biology 34: 103-112. doi:10.1111/cobi.13378

BOERSMA, P.D., REBSTOCK, G.A., STOKES, D.L. & MAJLUF, P. 2007. Oceans apart: conservation models for two temperate penguin species shaped by the marine environment. Marine Ecology Progress Series 335: 217-225. doi:10.3354/meps335217

BOERSMA, P.D., STOKES, D.L. & STRANGE, I.J. 2002. Applying ecology to conservation: tracking breeding penguins at New Island South reserve, Falkland Islands. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 12: 63-74. doi:10.1002/aqc.477

CÁRCAMO, P.F., CORTÉS, M., ORTEGA, L., SQUEO, F.A. & GAYMER, C.F. 2011. Crónica de un conflicto anunciado: tres centrales termoeléctricas a carbón en un hotspot de biodiversidad de importancia mundial. Revista chilena de historia natural 84: 171-180. doi:10.4067/S0716-078X2011000200003

CROXALL, J.P., BUTCHART, S.H.M., LASCELLES, B. ET AL. 2012. Seabird conservation status, threats and priority actions: a global assessment. Bird Conservation International 22: 1-34. doi:10.1017/S0959270912000020

CULIK, B. 2001. Finding food in the open ocean: foraging strategies in Humboldt penguins. Presented at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft in Osnabrück, June 4-8, 2001. Zoology 104: 327-338. doi:10.1078/0944-2006-00038

CULIK, B.M. & LUNA-JORQUERA, G. 1997. Satellite tracking of Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) in northern Chile. Marine Biology 128: 547-556. doi:10.1007/s002270050120

DANTAS, G.P.M., OLIVEIRA, L.R., SANTOS, A.M. ET AL. 2019. Uncovering population structure in the Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) along the Pacific coast at South America. PLoS One 14: e0215293. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0215293

ELLENBERG, U., MATTERN, T., SEDDON, P.J. & JORQUERA, G.L. 2006. Physiological and reproductive consequences of human disturbance in Humboldt penguins: The need for species-specific visitor management. Biological Conservation 133: 95-106. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2006.05.019

HERTEL, F., MARTINEZ, D., LEMUS, M. & TORRES-MURA, J.C. 2005. Birds from Chungungo, Tilgo, and Pájaros Islands in North-Central Chile/Ornitofauna de las Islas Chungungo, Tilgo, y Pájaros en la costa del centro-norte de Chile. Journal of Field Ornithology 76: 197-203.

LUNA-JORQUERA, G. & CULIK, B.M. 1999. Diving behaviour of Humboldt Penguins Spheniscus humboldti in northern Chile. Marine Ornithology 27: 67-76.

LUNA-JORQUERA, G. & CULIK, B.M. 2000. Metabolic rates of swimming Humboldt penguins. Marine Ecology Progress Series 203: 301-309.

LUNA-JORQUERA, G., FERNÁNDEZ, C.E. & RIVADENEIRA, M.M. 2012. Determinants of the diversity of plants, birds and mammals of coastal islands of the Humboldt current systems: implications for conservation. Biodiversity and Conservation 21: 13-32. doi:10.1007/s10531-011-0157-2

LUNA-JORQUERA, G., GARTHE, S., SEPULVEDA, F.G., WEICHLER, T. & VÁSQUEZ, J.A. 2000. Population size of Humboldt Penguins assessed by combined terrestrial and at-sea counts. Waterbirds: The International Journal of Waterbird Biology 23: 506-510. doi:10.2307/1522191

MATTERN, T., ELLENBERG, U., LUNA-JORQUERA, G. & DAVIS, L.S. 2004. Humboldt Penguin census on Isla Chañaral, Chile: Recent increase or past underestimate of penguin numbers? Waterbirds: The International Journal of Waterbird Biology 27: 368-376.

PAREDES, R. & ZAVALAGA, Carlos. B. 2001. Nesting sites and nest types as important factors for the conservation of Humboldt penguins (Sphensicus humboldti). Biological Conservation 100: 199-205. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(01)00023-4

PAREDES, R., ZAVALAGA, C.B., BATTISTINI, G., MAJLUF, P. & MCGILL, P. 2003. Status of the Humboldt Penguin in Peru, 1999-2000. Waterbirds: The International Journal of Waterbird Biology 26: 129-138.

ROPERT-COUDERT, Y., CHIARADIA, A., AINLEY, D. ET AL. 2019. Happy Feet in a hostile world? The future of penguins depends on proactive management of current and expected threats. Frontiers in Marine Science 6. doi:10.3389/fmars.2019.00248

SIMEONE, A., ARAYA, B., BERNAL, M. ET AL. 2002. Oceanographic and climatic factors influencing breeding and colony attendance patterns of Humboldt penguins Spheniscus humboldti in central Chile. Marine Ecology Progress Series 227: 43-50. doi:10.3354/meps227043

SIMEONE, A. & BERNAL, M. 2000. Effects of habitat modification on breeding seabirds: A case study in central Chile. Waterbirds: The International Journal of Waterbird Biology 23: 449-456. doi:10.2307/1522182

SIMEONE, A., LARA-JORQUERA, G., BERNAL, M., ET AL. 2003. Breeding distribution and abundance of seabirds on islands off north-central Chile. Revista chilena de historia natural 76: 323-333. doi:10.4067/S0716-078X2003000200016

SOANES, L.M., BRIGHT, J.A., ANGEL, L.P. ET AL. 2016. Defining marine important bird areas: Testing the foraging radius approach. Biological Conservation 196: 69-79. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2016.02.007

TAYLOR, S.S., LEONARD, M.L., BONESS, D.J. & MAJLUF, P. 2002. Foraging by Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) during the chick-rearing period: general patterns, sex differences, and recommendations to reduce incidental catches in fishing nets. Canadian Journal of Zoology 80: 700-707. doi:10.1139/Z02-046

THIEL, M., MACAYA, E.C., ACUÑA, E. ET AL. 2007. The Humboldt Current System of Northern and Central Chile: oceanographic processes, ecological interactions and socioeconomic feedback. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review 45: 195-344.

TORO, F., VILINA, Y.A., CAPELLA, J.J. & GIBBON, J. 2016. Novel Coastal Feeding Area for Eastern South Pacific Fin Whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in Mid-Latitude Humboldt Current Waters off Chile. Aquatic Mammals 42: 47-55. doi:10.1578/AM.42.1.2016.47

TRATHAN, P.N., GARCÍA‐BORBOROGLU, P., BOERSMA, D. ET AL. 2015. Pollution, habitat loss, fishing, and climate change as critical threats to penguins. Conservation Biology 29:31-41. doi:10.1111/cobi.12349

VIANNA, J.A., CORTES, M., RAMOS, B. ET AL. 2014. Changes in abundance and distribution of Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti. Marine Ornithology 42: 153-159.

WALLACE, R.S. & ARAYA, B. 2015. Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti population in Chile: counts of moulting birds, February 1999-2008. Marine Ornithology 43: 107-112.

WEICHLER, T., GARTHE, S., LUNA-JORQUERA, G. & MORAGA, J. 2004. Seabird distribution on the Humboldt Current in northern Chile in relation to hydrography, productivity, and fisheries. ICES Journal of Marine Science 61: 148-154. doi:10.1016/j.icesjms.2003.07.001

WERNER, A.C., CARDENAS ALAYZA, S., CARDENA MORMONTOY, M. ET AL. 2011. La ruta del pingüino : uso de habitat marino y patron de atencion al nido por el pingüino de Humboldt (Spheniscus humboldti) en Punta San Juan, Peru. Boletin Informativo - UNOP 6: 21-27.

Search by author or title:

Browse previous volumes: