Conservation March, 1998 vol. II, no. 1

In this issue

From the Editor 1

Banking DNA: easy and worthwhile 2

Effects of El Niflo 1997-98 on Humboldts in 5

Penguins of and the 8

Ecology and conservation of in :

a symposIum 16

Eye on El Nmo 25 The Penguins of South America and the Falkland Islands

MIKE BINGHAM

Introduction to the Region World-wide there are 17 of census with methods employed for penguin, of which 7 regularly breed surface nesting species. For this reason around South America and the Falkland the Magellanic Penguin had been Islands. Threeof these species are ofthe excluded from the Falkland Islands Spheniscus, and are found Falkland Islands census. nowhere else in the world. These are the On that basis it was decided that a Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus found breeding amongst Rockhopper census would beconducted of all South magelianicusJ common around southern colonies. The total Falklands population American penguins during the 1996/97 South America and the Falkland Islands, stands at no more than about 50 pairs. breeding season, except for those of the the (Spheniscus Genus Spheniscus. In theory this meant humboldti) restricted to the Pacific coast The Census that all species covered by the Falkland of Chile and Peru, and the Galapagos By comparison to other areas of Islands census would be included, Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) found research, conducting counts of breeding although King and Gentoo Penguins only at the Galapagos Islands off the populations can seem fairly mundane. were not expected to be encountered coast of Ecuador. Nevertheless the value of data obtained during the South American census. The ( from population censuses should never During the 1995/96 Falkland Islands patagonicus) has a limited presence in the be underestimated. It is only by recording census it had been possible to conduct region, with a breeding population of population size and distribution that we ground counts of incubating pairs at around 400 pairs in the Falkland Islands are able to determine with any accuracy each of the breeding colonies, because (Bingham 1996). King Penguins have whether a population is thriving or most colonies were relatively accessible not bred in South America since the declining, or how a population has been (Bingham 1996). By contrast, many of colony on Islas de los Estados was affected by disasters suchas an oil spill the South American colonies are remote wiped out by sealers during the last orEI Nino. and inaccessible, and any attempt to century. The Falkland Islands hold During 1995/96, a population census conduct ground counts of each and around 20% of the world population of of all penguin species (except the every colony would have been doomed ( papua), with Magellanic Penguin) was conducted to failure. It was therefore decided from a total population of 65,000 breeding around the Falkland Islands (Bingham the outset that the census would be pairs at 81 sites (Bingham 1996). 1996). Every breeding colony was conducted by light aircraft, thereby The Falkland Islands and South visited, and population totals for each negating the need to get ashore at America are home to two species of the species obtained. Comparing this data difficult and remote sites. Genus Eudyptes; the Southern with previous studies revealed that the The location of all the Falkland Rockhopper (Eudyptes chrysocome Southern Rockhopper population had breeding sites had been known prior to chrysocome) and the Macaroni (Eudyptes crashed to a fraction of its former size the commencement of the 1995/96 chrysolophus). The Southern Rockhopper (Bennett 1933, Bingham 1994c, Bingham census (Bingham 1996), but this was is a subspecies that is restricted to the 1995a, Bingham 1996). With no obvious certainly not the case for South America. Falkland Islands and South America, reason for this dramatic decline, apart Although data did exist for a number of with the Falkland Islands holding a from speculation about commercial known breeding sites around South breeding population of about 300,000 fishing, it became a priority to census America, it was likely that other sites pairs at 36 sites (Bingham 1996). The the remainder of the world population existed that had not been recorded. This Falkland Islands population of located in South America, to detennine was another reason for favouring an Macaroni Penguins is very small, with how wide-spread the decline had been. aerial census, since it provided the no colonies and only individual pairs It had been shown during the opportunity to cover large areas of 1995/96census of the Falkland Islands, suitable coastline in search of previously Mike Bingham that itrequires little extra effort to census unrecorded colonies. This certainly Environmental Research Unit all penguin species during the course of reduced the margin of error that would PO Box 434 such a census. The only exception to this otherwise have resulted from new sites Stanley, Falkland Islands was the Magellanic Penguin. Its being overlooked, however the margin Casilla #1452, Punta Arenas, Chile widespread,low-density distribution in [email protected] made it impossible to

8 Penguin C01tservation March 1998 oferror for the actual COW1ts was clearly near Puerto Deseado. This colony is breed ing sites (Figure 1 & Table 1). greater for aerial counts than for groW1d regularly monitored as part of an Apart from the very smaIl colony near counts. ongoing research programme, and Puerto Deseado (Frere et aI. 1993), these In to quantify the margin of population data from their research was breeding sites are restricted to the error likely to be expected from aerial used in favour of duplicating results islands off and Chile. counts, a number of aerial censuses (Frere et al. 1993). Combined with the Falkland Islands were made of Rockhopper colonies in population of 300,000 pairs at 36 sites the Falkland Islands for which the CENSUS RESULTS (Bingham 1996), this gives a world number of breeding pairs was also King penguin population of 475,000 breeding pairs at determined by ground counts. These As expected, no King Penguins were 51 sites for the subspecies Eudyptes c. aerial counts differed by a maximum of recorded anywhere in South America. chrysocome. (South Georgia has been 14% from groW1d counts made of the known to hold a few breeding pairs, but same colony, giving a total margin of Gentoo penguin no more than 10 pairs have been error of +/ - 20% for aerial census data Somewhat surprisingly, a very small recorded). (Bingham 1996). Gentoo breedingcolony was discovered The 1996/97 aerial census was con­ on Islas de los Estados, containing ducted throughout the known almost 100 breeding pairs. This was the The 1996/97census fOW1d that South Eudyptes breeding ranges of Chile only breeding colony of Gentoo America holds a breeding population of and Tierra del Fuego. The Atlantic coast Penguin recorded in South America. about 12,000 pairs of Macaroni, ata total of mainland was excluded of9 sites (Figure 2 & Table 2). These sites from the census, since this coastline has Southern Rockhopper are all restricted to the islands off Tierra been well studied, and does not hold The 1996/97 census showed that del Fuego and Chile. Only the islands of any breeding sites for species covered South America holds a breeding Diego Ramirez, TIdefonso and Noirhold by the census, other than a very small population of about 175,000 pairs of more than a thousand breeding pairs. Rockhopper colony on Isla Pinguino, Southern Rockhoppers, at a total of 15 con tinued on page 10

:.,,':. . . ., . .

FALKLAND ISLANDS

II

Figure 1: Map of South American Rockhopper breeding sites.

Penguin Conservation March 1998 9 The Penguins of South America and the Falkland Islands continued from page 9

DISCUSSION A colony ofa little under100 breeding 1990s, with low breeding success also pairs of Gentoo Penguins was dis­ being observed during that period No breeding King Penguins were covered on Islas de los Estados during (Bingham 1994a, Bingham 1994d, observed in South America during the the 1996/97 census. The Falkland Bingham 1995a). Continued monitoring 1996/97 census. The Falkland Islands Islands population stood at 65,000 of these sites since then indicates that population stood at around 400 breeding pairs during the 1995/96 the Falkland Islands population has breeding pairs during the 1995/96 census (Bingham 1996) out of an now risen to around 81,000 breeding census (Bingham 1996), and has rapidJy estimated world population of 320,000 pairs (Figure 3), with high breeding expanded from a popuJation ofless than pairs (Croxall, In press). The 1995/96 success rates having been recorded 100 pairs recorded during 1980/81 Falkland Islands census indicated a since 1993/94 (Figure 4). Gentoo (Bingham 1995a). With a world population decline ofaround 45% since populations are known to fluctuate population of around 1,500,000 pairs a similar census conducted during greatly, and it is plausible that the (Croxall, in press), the Falkland Islands 1932/33 (Bennett 1933). decline observed previously was merely population is of regional rather than Annual counts of selected breeding part of a natural cycle. global importance. sites around the Falkland Islands The world population of Southern suggested that much of this decline had Rockhopper Penguins now stands at occurred during the late 19805 and early around 475,000 breeding pairs, with 63% of the population in the Falkland Islands and 37% in South America. TABLE 1 Comparison with previous census SOUTH AMERICAN ROCKHOPPER COUNTS data (Bennett 1933) indicates that the 1996/97 Falkland Islands population has crashed to just 10% of its former size, Site # Site Name Nests with much of this decline having Isla Noir 70,000 continued on page 1L 2 Islas Diego Ramirez 60,000 3 Islas IIdefonso 10,000 4 Islas de los Estados 10,000 TABLE 2 MACARONI PENGUIN COUNTS 5 Islas Barnevelt 7,000 1996/97 6 Isla Recalada 5,500

7 Islas Terhalten 4,500 Site # Site Nests 8 Grupo Cabo de Hornos 2,600 Islas Diego Ramirez 4,500 9 Isla PingUino 200* 2 Isla Noir 3,000 10 Estrecho de Magallanes <1000 3 Islas IIdefonso 2,000 11 Islas Reina Adelaida <1000 4 Isla Recalada 1,000 12 Bahia Salvacion <1000 5 Isla Desolacion 800 13 Golfo Ladrillero <1000 6 Islas de los Estados >100 14 Bahia Dineley <1000 7 Islas Barnevelt >100 15 Golfo de Penas <1000 8 Islas Terhalten >100 South American Total 175,000 9 Grupo Cabo de Hornos >100 South American Sites Total 12,000 (*data from Frere et al.) Falkland Islands Total <50

10 Penguin Conservation March 1998 FALKLAND ISLANDS

Figure 2: Map of Macaroni Penguin breeding sites.

Falklands Gentoo Penguin Population Estimated Number of Breeding Pairs 100000

90000

80000

70000

~ "ji; 60000 c.. 0) c 50000 '0 Q) Q) 40000 .0 -0 30000 c:i c 20000

10000

0 88/89 89/90 90/91 91/92 92/93 93/94 94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 Year Figure 3: Falklands Gentoo Penguin population trends.

Penguin Conservation March 1998 11 The Penguins of South America and the Falkland Islands continued from page 11

occurred during the 1980s and early Gentoo Penguin Productivity 19905 (Bingham 1994c, Bingham 1995a, (chicks per breeding pair) 1.2 ..,....------...-;--~----.,;;..:....---:....------Bingham 1996). Evidence of this dramatic decline can also be seen from the breeding sites themselves. The Falkland Islands breeding sites feature old colonies which have destroyed the 0.8 vegetation by years of occupancy, I leaving only lichen covered rocks and 0.6 stones around the nest-site. The huge .... "iii breeding colonies that once produced 0- these areas ofbarren ground, have now --Xl 0.4 u been reduced to small clusters of E u huddled in the centre of their stony 0.2 territories. The South American Rockhopper population shows no such evidence of 0 decline, with breeding sites featuring a 90/91 91/92 92/93 93/94 94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 healthy mixture of new, middle-aged Year and old colonies, indicating a natural Figure 4: Falkland Islands Gentoo Penguin productivity studies cycle of fluctuation and regeneration. Comparison with previous census data fVenegas1984, Venegas 1991,VVoehier 1993) also indicates that the South c Magellanic Penguin population trends 0 American population had been stable ',p ttl 100 throughout the 1980s and 1990s, ~ 0- covering the period when over half the 0 90 0- Falkland Islands population had died 0\ 80 from starvation. The reason for such 0 --0\ 70 differing fortunes is unknown,although 0\ 60 it is interesting to note that the waters Q) .r. around Tierra del Fuego and Chile are +J 50 not heavily fished, whilst those around '0 ~ 40 the Falkland Islands are. In the Falkland ttl VI 30 Islands, even internationally recognised ttl VI.... sites, such as whkh is .iii 20 being considered for VVorld Heritage 0- 10 status, have fleets of fishing boats '0 ci 0 operating just 3 miles from breeding z 90/91 91/92 92/93 93/94 94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 Rockhoppers. The Macaroni populations of South Year America (12,(XX) pairs) and the Falkland Islands (-SO pairs) must be looked at in Figure 6: Falkland Islands Magellanic Penguin population trends, showing the light of a world population of the number of pairs as a percentage of the 1990/91 population. around 9 million breeding pairs (Croxall, in press). These populations The Macaroni is the most numerous of of mainland Argentina is estimated to are therefore of regional rather than all the world's penguins. be 650,

12 Penguin Cotlservation March 1998 FALKLANDS

Figure 5: Map of Magellanic Penguin distribution

Magellanic Penguin Productivity giving a South American population of (chicks per breeding pair) at least 1,300,000 pairs. Studies by the 1.2..,....------Environmental Research Unit indicate that the Falkland Islands population must be well in excess of 100,000 pairs, giving a minimum world population of around one and a half million breeding .~ 0.8 pairs. '"c...... Annual monitoring of selected Q) 0.6 a.. colonies (Bingham 1994b, Bingham ~ .~ 1995a, Bingham 1995b) shows that the ~ 0.4 u Magellanic Penguin population of the 0.2 Falkland Islands has declined to about half its 1980s level (Figure 6). These 0 declines coincided with observations of low breeding success up until 1993/94 90/91 91/92 92/93 93/94 94/95 95/9696/97 97/98 (Figure 7). Year Inaddition to its Penguin Monitoring Programme in the Falkland Islands, the Figure 7: Falkland Islands Magellanic Penguin productivity studies Environmental Research Unit now conducts similar studies at a number of Chilean breeding sites along the Straits of Magellan. These studies suggest that contmued on page 14

Penguin Conservation March 1998 13 The Penguins of South America and the Falkland Islands continued from page 13

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Figure 9: Map of Galapagos Penguin distribution the Magellanic Penguin decline the highest rate observed in the organisations that have. The estimatecl observed in the Falkland Islands has not Falkland Islands (range 0.79 - 1.23 chicks world population sizes of these species been evident i:n the Magellanic region of fledged per nest). are less than 15,000 and 1,000 breeding Chile, despite its close proximity and Further evidence of the differing pairs respectively. (Vargas 1996, similar breeding habitat to the Falkland fortunes of the two regions can be seen Zavalaga 1997). Islands. from the breeding sites themselves. One such site is Isla Magdalena, Magellanic Penguin colonies around the Acknowledgements which lies in the Straits of Magellan and Falkland Islands generally feature a Thanks go to CONAF, Instituto de la covers an area of less than 1 sq. km. The very high percentage of unoccupied Patagonica, Fundaci6n Otway, 1997/98 census conducted by the burrows, with an average of more than Aerovias DAP, Ricardo Fuentes and Environmental Research Unit shows 70% of burrows being unoccupied. Elena Mejias. that this tiny island holds a population Similar breeding sites in the Straits of of around 41,000 breeding pairs of Magellan hold less than half the References Magellanic Penguin; equivalent to proportion of unoccupied burrows « Bennett, A.G. (1933) The penguin about a third of the entire Falkland 35%), suggesting lower levels of adult population of the Falkland Islands in Islands population. Comparison with a mortality or higher levels of 1932/33. Government Press, Falkland similar census conducted during 1940 recruitment. There is no commercial Islands.4pp. suggests little significant change over fishing activity around the Straits of Bingham, M. (1994a) Conservation the last 60 years (CONAF). Magellan. Report on Gentoo Penguins. Penguin The 1997/98 population in the Straits South America is also home to the News, Vol .6, No.4: 9. of Magellan increased by an average of Humboldt Penguin and the Galapagos Bingham, M. (1994b) Conservation 17% since 1996/97. Chick survival rates Penguin, but these species were outside Report on Magellanic Penguins. were also high during 1997/98, with the the scope of this census. The Penguin News, Vol. 6, No. 20: 10. lowest rate observed in the Straits of Environmental Research Unit has not Bingham, M. (1994c) Conservation Magellan (range 1.28 - 1.71 chicks conducted any research on either of Report on Rockhopper Penguins. fledged per nest) still being higher than these species, but there are other Penguin News, Vol. 6, No. 21: 9.

14 Penguin Conservation March 1998 Bingham, M. (1994<:1) Gentoo Penguin population trends: 1987/88 - 1993/94, The Warrah, 5: 4-5. Bingham, M. (1995a) Population status ofpenguin species in the Falkland Islands. Penguin ConsenxltWn, 8 (1): 14-19. Bingham, M. (1995b). Seabird Surveys: 1994-95 Report The Warrah, 5: 5. Bingham, M. (1996) Penguin Popu­ lation Census 1995-96. The Warrah, 10: 6-7. Croxall, J.P. (ed.) In Press. Penguin Conservation Assessment: Antarctic and Subantarctic Species. In: Ellis, S. (ed.) Penguin Conservation Assessment. IUCN Conservation Breeding Specialist Group. Frere, E., Gandini, M., Gandini, P., Holik, T., Lichtschein V. and Day M.O. (1993) Variaci6n anual en el numero de adultos reproductivos en una nueva colonia de pingiiino penacho amarillo en Isla Pingiiino (Santa Cruz, Argentina). Homero, 13: 293-294. Gandini, P., E. Frere and P.D. Boersma. In Press. Status and conser­ vation of Magellanic Penguins in , Argentina. Bird Conser­ vation International. Vargas, H. (1996) Galapagos Penguin Census of 1995. Penguin Conservation, 9 (1): 2-4. Venegas, C. (1984) Estado de las Figure 8: Map of Humboldt Penguin distribution poblaciones de Pinguino de Penacho Amarillo y Mamroni en la Isla Noir, Chile. Informe Instituto de la Patagonia, 33. Venegas, C. (1991) Estudio de cuantificacion poblacional de pinguinos crestados en Isla Recalada. Informe About the Environmental Research Unit Instituto de la Patagonia, 55. Woehler, E.J. (1993) The distribution The Environmental Research Unit safeguard our natural heritage. This is and abundance of Antarctic and Sub­ conducts Seabird Monitoring and Base­ especially important with oil exploration antarctic Penguins. SCAR, Cambridge. line Surveying around the Falkland around the Falkland Islands due to Zavalaga, C.B. and Paredes, R. (1997) Islands, and holds the most comprehensive commence in May 1998. Please help safe­ Humboldt Penguins at Punta San Juan, database on wildlife resources in the guard our penguins by making a donation Peru. Penguin Conseroation, 10(1): 6-8. region. The Environmental Research Unit large or small to the Environmental relies entirely upon funds donated by its Research Unit. Directors and supporters. Data generated Mike Bingham (Director) by our research programmes are provided Environmental Research Unit free ofcharge to Falkland Islands Govern­ PO Box 434 ment, scientific organisations, and other Stanley interested parties, in order that they may Falkland Islands

Penguin Conservation March 1998 15