The Impact of Krill Loss on Antarctic Penguins

Project Overview:
Wayne Trivelpiece (Oceanites, D.C., USA)
Penguins, whales and many fish rely on krill, a small crustacean, as a staple part of their diets. This project uses 30 years of data on penguin population sizes and breeding success from field studies in Antarctica to evaluate the relationship between krill abundance and penguin reproduction and survival on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Video and Images:
Image
Copa Adelie Colony on Icebergs, Sue and Wayne Trivelpiece
Copa Beach from Penguin Colony, Sue and Wayne Trivelpiece
Copa Adelie Colony, Sue and Wayne Trivelpiece
Adelie Colony above Copa Hut, Sue and Wayne Trivelpiece
Summary Materials:
Research Series Reports
application/pdf iconLenfest Research Series Report
April, 2011
Publications and Reports:
Published Papers

Trivelpiece, W.Z., J.T. Hinke, A.K. Miller, C.S. Reiss, S.G. Trivelpiece, and G.M. Watters. 2011. Variability in krill biomass links harvesting and climate warming to penguin population changes in Antarctica. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

PNAS paper
April, 2011

Polito, M. J., A. K. Miller, et al. 2010. Maturation increases early reproductive investment in Adelie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae. Ibis 152(1): 38-47.

International Journal of Avian Science paper (subscription needed)
January, 2010

Miller, A. K. and W. Z. Trivelpiece. 2008. Chinstrap penguins alter foraging and diving behavior in response to the size of their principle prey, Antarctic krill. Marine Biology 154(2): 201-208.

Marine Biology paper (subscription needed)
March, 2008

Polito, M. J. and W. Z. Trivelpiece. 2008. Transition to independence and evidence of extended parental care in the gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua). Marine Biology 154(2): 231-240.

Marine Biology paper (subscription needed)
February, 2008

Hill, S. L., G. M. Watters, et al. 2007. Model uncertainty in the ecosystem approach to fisheries. Fish and Fisheries 8(4): 315-336.

Fish and Fisheries paper (subscription needed)
December, 2007

Hinke, J. T., K. Salwicka, et al. 2007. Divergent responses of Pygoscelis penguins reveal a common environmental driver. Oecologia 153(4): 845-855.

Oecologia paper (subscription needed)
October, 2007

Trivelpiece, W.Z., S. Buckelew, et al. 2007. The winter distribution of chinstrap penguins from two breeding sites in the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. Polar Biology 30(10): 1231-1237.

Polar Biology article (subscription needed)
September, 2007

Miller, A. K. and W. Z. Trivelpiece. 2007. Cycles of Euphausia superba recruitment evident in the diet of Pygoscelid penguins and net trawls in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Polar Biology 30(12): 1615-1623.

Polar Biology paper (subscription needed)
July, 2007

Hill, S. L., K. Reid, et al. 2007. A compilation of parameters for ecosystem dynamics models of the Scotia Sea-Antarctic Peninsula region. CCAMLR Science 14: 1-25.

application/pdf iconCCAMLR Science paper
January, 2007
Media:
Press Releases
Penguins that Shun Ice Still Lose Big from a Warming Climate
Lenfest in the News
New York Times article, 2012
New York Times article, 2011
BBC News article
National Geographic article
Wired News article
Baltimore Sun article
CBS 60 Minutes feature