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居住史和饮食这个项目将在以前研究的基础上，通过挖掘被遗弃和活跃的企鹅群体，调查南极洲罗斯海地区阿德利企鹅的居住史和饮食。从阿达雷角到大理石点，维多利亚陆地海岸上存在着许多活跃和废弃的殖民地，将对其进行采样。其中一些遗址已经被放射性碳定年，表明阿德利企鹅的长期居住史可以追溯到现在(B.P.)之前的13,000年。从挖掘中发现的材料，如以前的调查所表明的，将包括企鹅骨骼、组织和蛋壳碎片，以及在鸟巢土壤(由鸟类鸟粪形成)中保存的大量猎物遗骸(鱼骨、耳石、乌贼喙)。这些有机遗骸将被量化并接受放射性碳分析，以获得企鹅在该地区的殖民史。识别沉积物中的猎物残骸将有助于评估企鹅的饮食。来自这些地点的其他数据(古代DNA)将通过与新西兰科学家的合作进行分析。过去的气候条件将从已公布的冰芯和海洋沉积物记录中得到解释。这些数据将被用来检验阿德利企鹅以可预测的方式对过去和现在的气候变化做出反应的假设。此外，阿德利企鹅根据气候、海冰条件和其他沿纬度梯度的海洋环境变量改变食物的假设将得到检验。研究生和本科生将参与这个项目，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.