2022-2023 Science Planning Summary
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2022-2023 USAP Field Season
Project Detail

Project Title

Population growth at the southern extreme: Effects of early life conditions on Adélie penguin individuals and colonies


Adélie Penguins. Photo by Mika Lucibella, courtesy of the NSF/USAP Photo Library.
B-200-M Research Location(s): Cape Crozier, Cape Royds

Summary

Event Number:
B-200-M
NSF / OPP Award 1935870

Program Director:
Dr. William Ambrose

ASC POC/Implementer:
Ryan Steiner / Jenny Cunningham


Principal Investigator(s)

Dr. Grant Ballard
gballard@pointblue.org
Point Reyes Bird Observatory


Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station
Research Locations: Cape Crozier, Cape Royds


Description

In the Ross Sea region, one of the largest Adélie penguin colonies in the world is growing quickly, despite signs of negative density dependence. Building on a long-term biologging and demographic datasets, this team will integrate the role of environmental factors with information on penguin foraging behavior, diet, growth, and survival at Cape Crozier and Cape Royds. Data will be used to evaluate how early-life conditions and penguin behavior relate to penguin energetics and population size. Results from this study will enhance the scientific understanding of important penguin and prey populations and provide information that will feed into the conservation of sea-ice ecosystems. The team will also lead a diverse training and public outreach program.


Field Season Overview

Eight participants will deploy this season to continue their long-term study of Adélie Penguin demographics and population response to environmental change in the Ross Sea. Deployments will be staggered throughout the field season between early November and mid-February. Team members will travel by helicopter to occupy camps at two field sites, Cape Royds and Cape Crozier. The team will also spend two nights at Cape Bird to conduct a UAV survey and maintain a long-term database used for correcting aerial survey data. The team will identify marked penguins at each location, collect breeding behavior data, deploy various instrumentation on penguins to obtain foraging and location data, and band chicks near the end of the season. They will share resources and team-members with another team (Ainley, B-031-M) to accomplish field objectives that advance both projects.


Deploying Team Members

  • Grant Ballard (PI)
  • Dennis Jongsomjit
  • Anne Schmidt (Co-PI)
  • Arvind Varsani (Co-PI)