Influence of Pack Ice on the Distribution and Demography of Pygoscelis Penguins

浮冰的年度进退可能是南极企鹅种群结构、功能和分布时空变化的主要决定因素。从1973年开始的卫星记录表明，冬季积冰在6-8年的周期中达到最大程度。这些积冰范围的年际循环可能会对海洋食物网的所有层面产生重大影响，从而影响企鹅的繁殖成功、生存和补充模式，这些都是调节企鹅种群的因素。该项目继续对南设得兰群岛乔治王岛金钟海湾的Adele企鹅、Gentoo企鹅和Chinstrap企鹅(分别为Pygocelis adeliae、P.Papa和P.South ctica)的种群生物学进行比较研究。金鱼是南极半岛地区磷虾(Euphausia Superba)的主要捕食者，也是监测该地区渔业活动的主要物种。为了深入了解南极海洋生态系统的结构和功能，必须确定环境变化对关键的营养级捕食者如企鹅等营养级捕食者的结构和调节的影响。这项研究将有助于提供这样的信息。

The annual advance and retreat of pack ice may be the major determinant of spatial and temporal changes in the structure, function, and distribution of Antarctic penguin populations. Satellite records, from 1973 onwards, indicate that winter pack ice reaches its maximum extent on 6-8 year cycles. These interannual cycles in pack ice extent may have significant impacts on all levels of the marine food web, thereby affecting the penguins' reproductive success, survival, and recruitment patterns which are factors regulating penguin populations. This project continues a comparative study of the population biology of Adelie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae, P. papua, and P. antarctica, respectively) at Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The Pygoscelis species are the major predators of Krill (Euphausia superba) in the Antarctic Peninsula region and are the primary species used as monitors of fishery activities in this area. To thoroughly understand the structure and function of the Antarctic marine ecosystem, it is imperative to determine the impact of environmental variation on the structure and regulation of key trophic level predators such as the Pygoscelis penguins. This research will contribute such information.