Dynamics of Subcolonies in the Adelie Penguin

阿德利企鹅群体的内部结构由一个 各种不同的亚殖民地。这些亚群增加或 尺寸的减小相对独立于 整个殖民地。这个项目的目的是调查 几个大型繁殖群体的亚群体大小动态 阿德利企鹅在罗斯海，并评估的因素， 造成这样的变化。重要的是要了解是什么原因 这些有时相互矛盾的模式，以了解 企鹅种群的整体动态。意见在 位于伯德角的北方殖民地表明， 游客的干扰是影响 亚菌落大小这些因素将得到具体处理。在 此外，数字图像分析的方法将被用来缓解 从航拍照片中数企鹅的过程。本研究 将提高我们对企鹅的理解 人口动态，并引入更多的自动化方法， 评估人口。这两个目标都是相当重要的。 对当前南极生物学的主要兴趣的重要性。

Adelie penguin colonies have an internal structure consisting of a variety of distinct subcolonies. These subcolonies increase or decrease in size relatively independent from variations in the colony as a whole. The purpose of this project is to investigate the dynamics of subcolony size at several large breeding colonies of Adelie penguins in the Ross Sea, and evaluate the factors that cause such variation. It is important to understand what causes these sometimes-contradictory patterns in order to understand the dynamics of penguin populations as a whole. Observations at the northern colony at Cape Bird indicate that ice conditions and disturbance by visitors are significant factors that affect subcolony size. These factors will be addressed specifically. In addition, methods of digital image analysis will be used to ease the process of counting penguins from aerial photos. This research will raise the sophistication of our understanding of penguin population dynamics and also introduce more automated methods for evaluating populations. Both these goals are of considerable importance to current major interests in Antarctic biology.