Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-qsmjn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-17T16:23:06.778Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The history of the discovery of emperor penguin colonies, 1902–2004

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2009

Barbara Wienecke*
Affiliation:
Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston TAS 7050, Australia (Barbara.Wienecke@aad.gov.au)

Abstract

This article summarises the history of the discovery of emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri colonies. Emperor penguins were probably first seen on James Cook's second voyage (1773–1775) but were not recorded as a separate species until 1844. The first breeding colony of these birds was found in 1902 and a further 32 were sighted over the next century. The total number of colonies is still unknown but today satellite technology is aiding the process of discovery.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aagaard, B. 1944. Antarktis 1502–1944; Oppdagelser, Naturforhold og Suverenitetsforhold. Oslo: Norges Svalbard- og Ishavs-Undersøkelser (meddelelser 60).Google Scholar
Ainley, D.G., O'Connor, E.F., and Boekelheide, R.J.. 1984. The marine ecology of birds in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Washington DC: American Ornithologists’ Union (ornithological monographs 32).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anon. (Anonymous). 1964. New Zealand field parties begin season's work. Antarctic 3: 523.Google Scholar
Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. 1966. Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 107, Emperor Island, Dion Islands, Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting IV, 3–18 November 1966, Santiago, Chile.Google Scholar
Budd, G.M. 1962. Population studies in rookeries of the emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri. Proceedings of the Zoological Society, London 139: 365389.Google Scholar
Cendron, J. 1952. Une visite hivernale à une rookerie de manchots empereurs. La Terre et le Vie – Revue d’Écologie 40: 101108.Google Scholar
Condy, P.R. 1979. Observations on penguins in the King Haakon VII Sea, Antarctica. South African Journal for Antarctic Research 9: 2932.Google Scholar
Coria, N., and Montalti, D.. 2000. A newly discovered breeding colony of emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri. Marine Ornithology 28: 119120.Google Scholar
Cranfield, H.J. 1966. Emperor penguin rookeries of Victoria Land. Antarctic 4: 365366.Google Scholar
Dalgleish, D.G. 1957. Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri). Sea Swallow 10: 1819.Google Scholar
Drescher, H.-E. 1982. Untersuchungen zur Säugetierbiologie and Ornitologie während der Filchner-Schelfeis-Expedition 1980/81. Berichte zur Polarforschung 1: 33.Google Scholar
Dubbels, R., Gräfe, M., Limberger, D., and Plötz, J.. 1985. Studies on seals and seabirds. Berichte zur Polarforschung 25: 133137.Google Scholar
Falla, R.A. 1937. Birds. Adelaide: BANZARE Reports (series B, vol. 2).Google Scholar
Forster, J.R. 1781. Historia aptenodytae, generis avium orbi avstrali proprii. Commentationes Societatis Regias Scientiarum Gottingensis 3: 121148.Google Scholar
Fretwell, P.T., and Trathan, P.N.. 2009. Penguins from space: faecal stains reveal the location of emperor penguin colonies. Global Ecology and Biogeography: DOI: 10.1111/j.1466–8238.2009.00467.xGoogle Scholar
Gray, G.R. 1844. Aptenodytes. Annals and Magazine for Natural History 13: 315.Google Scholar
Harrington, H.J. 1959. Narrative of a visit to the newly discovered emperor penguin rookery at Coulman Island, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Notornis 8: 127132.Google Scholar
Harrington, H.J. 1960. Adelie penguin rookeries in the Ross Sea. Notornis 9: 3339.Google Scholar
Hempel, G., and Stonehouse, B.. 1987. Aerial counts of penguins, seals and whales in the eastern Weddell Sea. Berichte zur Polarforschung 39: 227–220.Google Scholar
Hoshiai, T., and Chujo, K.. 1976. A new emperor penguin rookery of Riiser-Larsen Peninsula, east Antarctica. Antarctic Record of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expeditions 57: 7379.Google Scholar
Kato, A., and Ichikawa, H.. 1999. Breeding status of Adélie and emperor penguins in the Mt Riiser-Larsen area, Amundsen Bay. Polar Bioscience 12: 3639.Google Scholar
Kato, A., Watanaba, K., and Naito, Y.. 2004. Population changes of Adélie and emperor penguins along the Prince Olaf Coast and on the Riiser-Larsen Peninsula. Polar Bioscience 17: 117122.Google Scholar
Koblents, Y.P. 1965. Mapping of the Antarctic by foreign countries during the IGY. Soviet Antarctic Information Bulletin (English) 2: 7577.Google Scholar
Kooyman, G. 1994. Natural history of emperor penguin colonies of the Ross Sea, 1993. Antarctic Journal of the United States 29: 170171.Google Scholar
Korotkevich, Y.S. 1964. The distribution of emperor penguins. Soviet Antarctic Expedition Information Bulletin (English) 4: 371375.Google Scholar
Lea, M.-A., and Soper, T.. 2005. Discovery of the first emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri colony in Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica. Marine Ornithology 33: 5963.Google Scholar
Ledenev, V.G. 1965. New emperor penguin colony. Soviet Antarctic Expedition Information Bulletin (English) 3:107109.Google Scholar
Mawson, D. 1915. The home of the blizzard. London: Wilhelm Heinemann.Google Scholar
Melick, D., and Bremmers, W.. 1995. A recently discovered breeding colony of emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) on the Budd Coast, Wilkes Land, east Antarctica. Polar Record 31: 426427.Google Scholar
Messick, M., Splettstoesser, J.F., Harrison, P., and Gavrilo, M.. 1999. New breeding site for emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) on Princess Martha Coast, Queen Maud Land, east Antarctica. Polar Record 35 (193): 156157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neuburg, H.A.C., Thiele, E., Walker, P.T., Behrendt, J.C., and Aughenbaugh, N.B.. 1959. The Filchner ice shelf. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 49: 110119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nordenskjöld, O. 1908. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Schwedischen Südpolarexpedition 1901.1903. Band V. Zoologie I. Stockholm: Lithographisches Institut des Generalstabs.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Novatti, R. 1959. Notas sobre una roqueria de pingün emperador en el Mar de Weddell. Contribucion del Instituto Antartico Argentino 34: 110.Google Scholar
Perkins, J.E. 1947. The biology at Little America III, the west base of the Unites States Antarctic Service Expeditions 1939–1941. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 89: 270284.Google Scholar
Pryor, M.E. 1964. Notes on the life history of the emperor penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri Gray, at Mirny Observatory, Antarctica, 1962. Soviet Antarctic ExpeditionInformation Bulletin (English) 3: 183184.Google Scholar
Pryor, M.E. 1968. The avifauna of Haswell Island, Antarctica. In: Austin, O.L. jr. (editor). Antarctic bird studies, Washington DC: American Geophysical Union (Antarctic research series 12): 5782.Google Scholar
Sclater, P.L. 1888. Notes on the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri). Ibis 5: 325334.Google Scholar
Splettstoesser, J.F., Gavrilo, M., Field, C., Field, C., Harrison, P., Messick, M., Oxford, P., and Todd, F.S.. 2000. Notes on Antarctic wildlife: Ross seals Ommatophoca rossii and emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 27: 137142.Google Scholar
Stonehouse, B. 1953. The Emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri Gray I. Breeding behaviour and development. Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey scientific reports 6.Google Scholar
Stonehouse, B. 1966. Emperor penguin colony at Beaufort Island, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Nature 210: 925926.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stonehouse, B. 1969. Emperor penguin colony at Franklin Island, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Ibis 111: 627628.Google Scholar
Todd, F.S., Adie, S. and Splettstoesser, J.F.. 2004. First ground visit to the emperor penguin Aptenodytes Forsteri colony at Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Marine Ornithology 32: 193194.Google Scholar
Vanhöffen, E. 1905. Bericht über die bei der deutschen Südpolarexpedition beobachteten. Vögel. Journal für Ornithologie 53: 500515.Google Scholar
Wienecke, B. 2009. Emperor penguin colonies in the Australian Antarctic Territory: how many are there? Polar Record 45 (235): 304312.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Willing, R.L. 1958. Australian discoveries of emperor penguin rookeries in Antarctica during 1954–57. Nature 182: 13931394.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, E.A. 1907. Aves. Zoology Vol. 2. British National Antarctic Expeditions, London: British Museum of Natural History.Google Scholar