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

#0125098史蒂夫·埃姆斯利罗斯海地区阿德利企鹅的职业历史和饮食这个项目将建立在以前的研究基础上，调查阿德利企鹅（Pygoscelis adeliae）在南极洲罗斯海地区的职业历史和饮食，挖掘废弃和活跃的企鹅殖民地。许多活跃和废弃的殖民地存在于维多利亚陆地海岸，从阿代尔角到大理石点将被采样。其中一些地点已被放射性碳年代测定，表明阿德利企鹅的长期占领历史可延伸到13,000年前（B。P.）。从挖掘中恢复的材料，从以前的调查中证明，将包括企鹅的骨头，组织和蛋壳碎片，以及丰富的猎物（鱼骨，耳石，鱿鱼喙）保存在鸟源（由鸟粪形成）土壤。这些有机残留物将被量化，并进行放射性碳分析，以获得企鹅在该地区的殖民历史。通过对沉积物中的猎物遗骸进行鉴定，可以对企鹅的饮食进行评估。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。过去的气候条件将根据公布的冰芯和海洋沉积物记录进行解释。这些数据将被用来检验阿德利企鹅对过去和现在的气候变化的反应是可预测的这一假设。此外，阿德利企鹅改变他们的饮食根据气候，海冰条件，和其他海洋环境变量沿着纬度梯度的假设将被测试。研究生和本科生将参与这一项目，并将开发一个项目网站，以报告结果，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.