Locate penguins through traces of bird droppings observed from satellites

Traces of bird droppings observed from satellites have helped British scientists determine where the flock of emperor penguins lay eggs on extremely large south. Knowing these positions will enable researchers to monitor this animal's response to climate change.

In a recent study, scientists from the United Kingdom's Antarctic Survey Agency (BAS) described the process of using satellite images to survey the surface of the ocean ice around 90%. Antarctic coast to search for the flock of emperor penguins. The survey identified a total of 38 locations of 38 birds. Of these, 10 locations are the places that were first discovered. In the previously known flocks, 6 flocks have changed positions, and 6 other groups have not been found.

Emperor penguins breed on the ocean ice during the Antarctic winter, so people have very little knowledge of them. The image of the reddish stains that the satellite recorded on the tape is reliable evidence of the whereabouts of these birds.

Peter Fretwell, a map specialist at BAS, explains: 'We cannot observe flesh-and-bones birds on satellite maps because the resolution is not high enough. However, during the breeding season, the penguins settled in a fixed place for 8 consecutive months. The ice in these places is dirty for a long time, and that is the bird stain we observe. '

The emperor penguins spend most of their lives in the sea. During the winter in Antarctica, when temperatures drop to -50 degrees Celsius, they return to the herd's shelter to lay eggs on the ice, which is the most difficult time for scientists to follow.

Dr. Phil Trathan, BAS penguin ecologist, said: 'This is a very interesting step. Now we know exactly where the penguins are, and the next step is to count the number of members of each group to know exactly the number of individuals of this species. With the use of satellite images combined with the number of individuals counted, it will be easier for us to track changes in the number of species over time. '

This research builds on the results of the work of French scientists. These scientists have carefully studied a herd of penguins and found that the number of individuals is seriously threatened but the main cause is climate change. Six flocks of penguins were not found in the recent study that lived in the area near the herd, which caused fears that penguins might be threatened throughout Antarctica.

Location map of penguin populations discovered in this study (Photo: UK Antarctic Survey Agency)

Emperor penguins

In the past people knew very little about the number and distribution of emperor penguins, because they have a habit of breeding on sea ice during the winter in Antarctica. These are areas that researchers sometimes have access to during the summer, while penguins have left to feed in the sea. It is estimated that the total number of individuals of this species ranges from 200,000 to 400,000 pairs.

Of the 38 Antarctic herds in this study, 10 were first discovered, 6 changed their place, and 6 of the previously studied herds disappeared or not. be found. All six of these penguins were previously recorded to live at more than 70 degrees South, which suggests that penguins across Antarctica are facing great risks due to climate change.

This study focuses on the number and location of the distribution of emperor penguins. More techniques are needed to get the exact number of members in each group. The next step of this study is to use the data of high-resolution satellites to count the number of penguins of each group.

Recently, computer model studies (Jenouvrier et al., 2009, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) are based on the number of follow-up data within 40 years of a penguin flock. Long-term research at Terre Adélie, Antarctica, has predicted that populations may be reduced by 95% or more before the effects of climate change. These predictions are based on a flock that resides in the 66.6-degree South. The new methods developed by Fretwell and Trathan in this study have helped test predictions in other locations where penguins reproduce, especially the higher South latitudes, the main habitat of the flock of penguins.

Emperor penguins are giants in the world of penguins, and are one of the largest birds. Yellow streaks on the ears and upper chest highlight their black heads. Great penguins are the only penguin that breeds during the Antarctic winter. This is the highest latitude in all the dead end, forming large flocks of birds on sea ice. In order for the offspring to mature in late spring and early summer, emperor penguins lay eggs throughout the winter in cold and dark conditions, with temperatures down to -50 degrees Celsius and wind speeds of up to 200 km. /hour. The female lays a single egg in May, then passes it to the male while it goes to sea to feed. For nine weeks, the male fasted, his body weight decreased by 45%. It balances the egg on its legs, and uses thick warm skin and hair. Egg temperature can be up to 70 degrees C higher than outdoor temperature. In order to keep it that good, the emperors have undergone many adaptive changes, with twice as thick hair and large reserves of fat. When the female returns in August, just when the egg begins to hatch, it will take care of the incubation and feed the young birds, while the male walks more than 100 km across the ice to the sea to feed. After that, both parents continued to raise their children.

References:
Fretwell et al.Penguins from space: faecal stains reveal the location of the emperor penguin colonies.Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2009;DOI: 10.1111 / j.1466-8238.2009.00467.x