Coastal regions of the northern Antarctic Peninsula are key for gentoo populations.

ABSTRACT: Southern Ocean ecosystems are rapidly changing due to climate variability. An apparent beneficiary of such change in the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is the gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua, which has increased its population size and expanded its range southward in the last 20 years. To better understand how this species has responded to large-scale changes, we tracked individuals during the non-breeding winter period from five colonies across the latitudinal range of breeding sites in the WAP, including from a recently established colony. Results highlight latitudinal gradients in movement; strong associations with shallow, coastal habitats along the entire Antarctic Peninsula; and movements that are independent of, yet constrained by, sea ice. It is clear that coastal habitat

SUBMITTER: Korczak-Abshire M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7876601 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature