Winter dispersion in Magellanic Penguins: differences between sexes and years.

MELINA BARRIONUEVO; JAVIER CIANCIO; NAHUEL MARCHISIO; ANTJE STEINFURTH; ESTEBAN FRERE

Dunedin

Conferencia; 10th International Penguin Conference; 2019

Magellanic Penguin migration has only recently startedto be completely studied. This species is the most migratory of the Spheniscusgenus and has a major role in balancing the marine ecosystem of the Patagonianshelf, because of its large prey consumption. To study its migration, we haveattached 26 geolocators (MK3 & MK4) to adults during two years 2017-2018 inPuerto Deseado, Argentina (47°45'S, 65°53'W). Preliminary analysis of 12devises revealed that the distance covered by penguins varied between years,being almost double in 2018 compared to 2017 (x2017=21803 km, x2018=45023km, t=3.60, p=0.005). Kernels densities also showed differences in habitat use,being penguins in 2017 more widely distributed along the Argentinean platformthan in 2018, specially during May and August. Each individual had a largerpath in 2018, but the used area by all penguins was smaller in 2018 than in 2017.Preliminary analysis showed that penguins locations are closely related to SST~10°Cand that there were differences in SST between years. There were differences inthe longitudinal distribution between sexes: males reached further distances fromthe coastline (t=2.01, p=0.07), and were closer to the 200-isobath (t=-2.43,p=0.04) and more time behind the 200-isobath (t=-1.98, p=0.05) than females. In2017, stable isotopes analysis of blood samples when arriving to the colonyfrom migration revealed differences between sexes in C13 showing a possiblesegregation in the diet. Studying penguin migration during many years is key tohelp in their conservation and to understand the health of the oceans.