Penguins: paradoxes and patterns

Croxall, J. P.; Davis, L. S.. 1999 Penguins: paradoxes and patterns. Marine Ornithology, 27. 1-12.

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Abstract/Summary

Penguins are often considered to be as ecologically and behaviourally homogenous as their morphology. Their structural morphology and associated physiological adaptations are governed by the demands of operating as flightless, subsurface marine predators. However, within the very strict constraints of this lifeform, penguins show considerable ecological and behavioural heterogeneity, although some of this undoubtedly relates to the range of latitudes and biotopes in which penguins breed. In this paper we: (i) briefly summarise and review some of the main features of the breeding biology, ecology and demography of penguins; (ii) identify consistent patterns across species in the grouping of these features – and highlight anomalies; (iii) suggest explanations/hypotheses for some of the potential links between ecology, behaviour and demography within these groupings; (iv) investigate six topics containing potential paradoxes, namely: migration, fasting, mate fidelity, brood reduction, demography and duration of breeding seasons. We conclude that in many biological and ecological traits penguins can be divided into two groups: (i) resident species, feeding inshore with short fasts ashore, breeding at an early age and having low divorce rates, and; (ii) migrant species, feeding offshore with long fasts ashore, breeding at older ages and having higher divorce rates. The placement of Magellanic Spheniscus magellanicus and Gentoo Pygoscelis papua Penguins in opposite groups to their congeners is particularly intriguing. We suggest that trade-offs between the year-round abundance and predictability of prey and the latitudinally-influenced time available for breeding are important determinants of these patterns. Considerably improved basic biological and ecological data on penguins and careful testing of explicit hypotheses will be required to investigate further both the suggested patterns and the remaining paradoxes.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	1018-3337
Additional Keywords:	penguins, morphology, variation, behaviour, demography, breeding
Date made live:	14 Oct 2013 09:57 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503137

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme

ISSN:

1018-3337

Additional Keywords:

penguins, morphology, variation, behaviour, demography, breeding

Date made live:

14 Oct 2013 09:57 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/503137