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Physiological differences between two overlapped breeding Antarctic penguins in a global change perspective

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Abstract

Global change has affected the Antarctic Peninsula influencing the abundance of krill, one of the main preys of penguins. In areas where breeding penguin populations overlap, species with a more diverse diet have generally been less affected than krill-specialist species, which have shown population declines. Human activities can add to these changes, as penguins are sensitive to anthropic impacts such as contamination. Our objective was to assess whether selected physiological parameters of Adélie and Gentoo penguins reflect their contrasting population trends in a colony located at Punta Stranger (25 de Mayo Island/King George, South Shetland Islands) where they breed sympatrically. During 2012, we assessed the leukocyte profile, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (H/L), erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENAs), hematocrit, biochemical profile, and a measure of immune function (bacterial agglutination) in adults and chicks of both species. Higher values of ENAs, indicative of genotoxic damage caused by contaminants, are in accordance with a greater sensitivity to ongoing global changes by Adélie penguins. Levels of cholesterol and triglycerides strengthen this idea since individuals could be investing more resources in energy reserves to successfully cope with challenging environmental conditions during the breeding season. The remaining physiological parameters did not provide a clear picture. Furthermore, some results could be related to differences in diet. Gentoos show greater prey diversity than Adélie penguins, incorporating a richer parasite fauna, which could explain their higher heterophils and H/L. The physiological parameters measured here serve as baseline for a sustained monitoring of these rapidly changing populations. Further physiological variables, including stress hormone and indices of oxidative stress, remain to be assessed as potential indicators of population susceptibility to global change in this system.

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Acknowledgments

We very much appreciated the hospitality and logistic support of the Argentinean Antarctic Base “Carlini (ex Jubany).” We thank J. Menucci for providing the maps and two anonymous reviewers for their suggestions that helped improve our manuscript. We are grateful for the logistic support and permits provided by the Instituto Antártico Argentino (IAA–DNA). AB was supported by the project CTM2011-24425. Permits to work at the site and handle penguins were given by Dirección Nacional del Antártico.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Group of Ecophysiology Applied to Management and Conservation of Wildlife, Department of Biology and Management of Aquatic Resources, Centro Nacional Patagónico (CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915, 9120, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

    Verónica L. D’Amico, María Gabriela Palacios & Marcelo Bertellotti

  2. Department of Biology of Top Predators, Instituto Antártico Argentino, Cerrito 1248, C1010AAZ, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Néstor Coria

  3. Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Andrés Barbosa

Authors
  1. Verónica L. D’Amico
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  2. Néstor Coria
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  3. María Gabriela Palacios
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  4. Andrés Barbosa
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  5. Marcelo Bertellotti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Verónica L. D’Amico.

Additional information

This article is an invited contribution on Life in Antarctica: Boundaries and Gradients in a Changing Environment as the main theme of the XIth SCAR Biology Symposium. J.-M. Gili and R. Zapata Guardiola (Guest Editors).

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D’Amico, V.L., Coria, N., Palacios, M.G. et al. Physiological differences between two overlapped breeding Antarctic penguins in a global change perspective. Polar Biol 39, 57–64 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-014-1604-9

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