Abstract
Huddling allows emperor penguins to conserve energy and survive their long winter fast while facing harsh climatic conditions. Here we report the first investigation into the effects of changes in wind speed and ambient temperature on different components of penguin huddling behaviour. We attached light and temperature recorders to male emperor penguins at the Pointe Géologie colony, Antarctica, which recorded huddling events. We then compared the frequency, duration, occurrence and intensity of huddling bouts, with ambient air temperatures and wind speeds. Huddling occurrence increased with lower ambient temperatures and higher wind speeds, whereas huddling intensity was mainly enhanced by lower ambient temperatures. Moreover, huddling group movements were linked to wind direction and its global density to lower ambient temperatures. Hence, emperor penguins complex huddling behaviour was modulated differently depending on these two parameters. Weather conditions may then affect emperor penguins ability to save energy and survive their winter fast.
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Acknowledgments
Field work was financially and logistically supported by the Institut Polaire Français Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV) and the Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF). All experiments were approved by the ethics committee of the French Polar Institute. Météo France generously provided meteorological data. We thank the 48th, 49th, 50th and 51st expedition at Dumont d’Urville station for technical assistance, and especially Mr. F. Blondel, J. Baudat and Y. Pont for their field work. We thank Dr. S. Blanc and Dr. M. Enstipp for manuscript revision.
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Gilbert, C., Robertson, G., Le Maho, Y. et al. How do weather conditions affect the huddling behaviour of emperor penguins?. Polar Biol 31, 163–169 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0343-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0343-6