Occupation History and Diet of Adelie Penguins in the Ross Sea Region

这个项目将在先前的研究基础上，通过挖掘被遗弃和活跃的企鹅群落，调查南极罗斯海地区阿德利企鹅（Pygoscelis adeliae）的占领历史和饮食。从阿代尔角到大理石角，在维多利亚陆地海岸上存在着许多活跃的和废弃的殖民地。其中一些遗址的放射性碳年代测定表明，阿德利企鹅的占领历史很长，可以追溯到距今13000年前。从先前的调查中发现，从挖掘中恢复的材料将包括企鹅骨骼、组织和蛋壳碎片，以及保存在造鸟（由鸟粪形成）土壤中的大量猎物遗骸（鱼骨、耳石、鱿鱼喙）。这些有机遗骸将被量化并进行放射性碳分析，以获得企鹅在该地区的殖民历史。识别沉积物中的猎物残骸将有助于评估企鹅的饮食。来自这些遗址的其他数据（古代DNA）将通过与新西兰科学家的合作进行分析。过去的气候条件将通过公布的冰芯和海洋沉积物记录来解释。这些数据将被用来验证一个假设，即阿德利企鹅对过去和现在的气候变化的反应是可预测的。此外，阿德利企鹅根据气候、海冰状况和其他海洋环境变量沿纬度梯度改变饮食的假设也将得到验证。研究生和本科生将参与该项目，并将开发一个项目网站来报告结果，并保持PI与北卡罗来纳州威尔明顿当地初中和高中学生之间的教育互动。

#0125098Steve EmslieOccupation History and Diet of Adelie Penguins in the Ross Sea RegionThis project will build on previous studies to investigate the occupation history and diet of Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) in the Ross Sea region, Antarctica, with excavations of abandoned and active penguin colonies. Numerous active and abandoned colonies exist on the Victoria Land coast, from Cape Adare to Marble Point will be sampled. Some of these sites have been radiocarbon-dated and indicate a long occupation history for Adelie penguins extending to 13,000 years before present (B. P.). The material recovered from excavations, as demonstrated from previous investigations, will include penguin bones, tissue, and eggshell fragments as well as abundant remains of prey (fish bones, otoliths, squid beaks) preserved in ornithogenic (formed from bird guano) soils. These organic remains will be quantified and subjected to radiocarbon analyses to obtain a colonization history of penguins in this region. Identification of prey remains in the sediments will allow assessment of penguin diet. Other data (ancient DNA) from these sites will be analyzed through collaboration with New Zealand scientists. Past climatic conditions will be interpreted from published ice-core and marine-sediment records. These data will be used to test the hypothesis that Adelie penguins respond to climate change, past and present, in a predictable manner. In addition, the hypothesis that Adelie penguins alter their diet in accordance with climate, sea-ice conditions, and other marine environmental variables along a latitudinal gradient will be tested. Graduate and undergraduate students will be involved in this project and a project Web site will be developed to report results and maintain educational interaction between the PI and students at local middle and high schools in Wilmington, NC.