Frontiers in Marine Science (May 2019)
Happy Feet in a Hostile World? The Future of Penguins Depends on Proactive Management of Current and Expected Threats
- Yan Ropert-Coudert,
- Andre Chiaradia,
- David Ainley,
- Andres Barbosa,
- P. Dee Boersma,
- Rebecka Brasso,
- Meagan Dewar,
- Ursula Ellenberg,
- Pablo García-Borboroglu,
- Louise Emmerson,
- Rachel Hickcox,
- Stephanie Jenouvrier,
- Stephanie Jenouvrier,
- Akiko Kato,
- Rebecca Ruth McIntosh,
- Phoebe Lewis,
- Phoebe Lewis,
- Francisco Ramírez,
- Valeria Ruoppolo,
- Valeria Ruoppolo,
- Peter G. Ryan,
- Philip J. Seddon,
- Richard Brain Sherley,
- Richard Brain Sherley,
- Ralph E. T. Vanstreels,
- Ralph E. T. Vanstreels,
- Lauren J. Waller,
- Lauren J. Waller,
- Eric J. Woehler,
- Eric J. Woehler,
- Phil N. Trathan
Affiliations
- Yan Ropert-Coudert
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372, Villiers-en-Bois, France
- Andre Chiaradia
- Conservation Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Cowes, VIC, Australia
- David Ainley
- H.T. Harvey & Associates Ecological Consultants, Los Gatos, CA, United States
- Andres Barbosa
- Departamento de Ecologia Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- P. Dee Boersma
- Global Penguin Society and Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Rebecka Brasso
- Department of Zoology, Weber State University, Ogden, UT, United States
- Meagan Dewar
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Federation University Australia, Berwick, VIC, Australia
- Ursula Ellenberg
- Global Penguin Society and Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Pablo García-Borboroglu
- Global Penguin Society and Centro Nacional Patagónico (CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Argentina
- Louise Emmerson
- 0Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Environment and Energy, Australian Government, Kingston, TAS, Australia
- Rachel Hickcox
- 1Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Stephanie Jenouvrier
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372, Villiers-en-Bois, France
- Stephanie Jenouvrier
- 2Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, United States
- Akiko Kato
- Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR7372, Villiers-en-Bois, France
- Rebecca Ruth McIntosh
- Conservation Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Cowes, VIC, Australia
- Phoebe Lewis
- 0Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Environment and Energy, Australian Government, Kingston, TAS, Australia
- Phoebe Lewis
- 3Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Francisco Ramírez
- 4Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Valeria Ruoppolo
- 5Aiuká, Praia Grande, Brazil
- Valeria Ruoppolo
- 6International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Yarmouth Port, MA, United States
- Peter G. Ryan
- 7FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
- Philip J. Seddon
- 1Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Richard Brain Sherley
- 8Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
- Richard Brain Sherley
- 9Bristol Zoological Society, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Ralph E. T. Vanstreels
- 0Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals, Cariacica, Brazil
- Ralph E. T. Vanstreels
- 1University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Lauren J. Waller
- 2Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Belville, South Africa
- Lauren J. Waller
- 3The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, Cape Town, South Africa
- Eric J. Woehler
- 4Marine and Antarctic Futures Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Eric J. Woehler
- 5BirdLife Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Phil N. Trathan
- 6British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00248
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 6
Abstract
Penguins face a wide range of threats. Most observed population changes have been negative and have happened over the last 60 years. Today, populations of 11 penguin species are decreasing. Here we present a review that synthesizes details of threats faced by the world’s 18 species of penguins. We discuss alterations to their environment at both breeding sites on land and at sea where they forage. The major drivers of change appear to be climate, and food web alterations by marine fisheries. In addition, we also consider other critical and/or emerging threats, namely human disturbance near nesting sites, pollution due to oil, plastics and chemicals such as mercury and persistent organic compounds. Finally, we assess the importance of emerging pathogens and diseases on the health of penguins. We suggest that in the context of climate change, habitat degradation, introduced exotic species and resource competition with fisheries, successful conservation outcomes will require new and unprecedented levels of science and advocacy. Successful conservation stories of penguin species across their geographical range have occurred where there has been concerted effort across local, national and international boundaries to implement effective conservation planning.
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