Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Population dynamics of Pygoscelis penguins (1980–2012) and penguin dropping records (1916–2001) on Ardley Island of West Antarctica, in response to ENSO

  • Article
  • Oceanology
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has affected penguins and their habitats in the western Antarctic Peninsula. We used both historical penguin population dynamics data (1980–2012) and sedimentary lipids in penguin droppings (1916–2001) on Ardley Island to examine the responses of the Antarctic ecosystem to ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) events. The results showed that during the last 30 years, climate, marine food chain changes, and human activity have significantly affected penguin population sizes on Ardley Island. The Chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) and Adélie (P. adeliae) penguin populations showed a good correlation with ENSO events. The Chinstrap penguin population decreased significantly because it was more sensitive to increasing human disturbance (e.g., scientific activity and tourism) than Adélie and Gentoo (P. papua), particularly during the breeding season. Compositional features of n-alkanes in penguin dropping sediments revealed that organic matter came from lower terrestrial plants, bacteria and algae. C23 was the main n-alkane heavy hydrocarbon indicating mosses and lichens in the penguin’s diet. Variation in the ratio of nC23/nC17 was closely correlated with ENSO events. The bacteria intrusion index (ratio of (iC15:0 + aC15:0)/nC15:0 for fatty acids) reflected significant increases in microorganism activity during several periods in this area. Meanwhile, the CPIA value for fatty acids decreased because micro-organisms contributed light hydrocarbon fatty acids to penguin droppings. Our results showed that the fine structure and molecular indices of fatty acids and n-alkanes in penguin dropping sediments can be used to explain climate-driven microbial processes, and to reveal the important role that microbes and bacteria play in the relatively simple Antarctic ecosystem.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Clarke A, Murphy EJ, Meredith MP et al (2007) Climate change and the marine ecosystem of the western Antarctic Peninsula. Phil Trans R Soc B 362:149–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Convey P, Bindschadler R, di Prisco G et al (2009) Antarctic climate change and the environment. Antarctic Sci 21:541–563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Mulvaney R, Abram NJ, Hindmarsh RCA et al (2012) Recent Antarctic Peninsula warming relative to Holocene climate and ice-shelf history. Nature 489:141–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Gao H, Liu Y, Wang Y et al (2013) Precursory influence of the Antarctic Oscillation on the onset of Asian summer monsoon. Chin Sci Bull 58:678–683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Xu K, Zhu C, He J (2012) Linkage between the dominant modes in Pacific subsurface ocean temperature and the two type ENSO events. Chin Sci Bull 57:3491–3496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Gloersen P (1995) Modulation of hemispheric sea-ice cover by ENSO events. Nature 373:503–506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Yuan X, Cane MA, Martinson DG (1996) Cycling around the South Pole. Nature 380:673–674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ledley TS, Huang Z (1997) A possible ENSO signal in the Ross Sea. Geophys Res Lett 24:3253–3256. doi:10.1029/3297gl03315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Cheng Y, Bian L, Lu L (2002) Antarctic Sea ice oscillation and its relationship with ENSO. J Appl Meteorol Sci 13:711–717 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Korczak-Abshire M (2010) Climate change influences on Antarctic bird populations. Papers on Global Change IGBP 17:53–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Vargas FH, Harrison S, Rea S et al (2006) Biological effects of El Niño on the Galápagos penguin. Biol Cons 127:107–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang H, Lu D, Yu P et al (2012) Biomarker records in penguin droppings and observed changes in penguin communities and their response to the ENSO in the Western Antarctic. Sci China Earth Sci 55:1238–1247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Tatur A, Myrcha A (1984) Ornithogenic soils on King George Island, South Shetland Islands (Maritime Antarctic Zone). Pol Polar Res 5:31–60

    Google Scholar 

  14. Myrcha A, Tatur A (1991) Ecological role of the current and abandoned penguin rookeries in the land environment of the maritime Antarctic. Pol Polar Res 12:3–24

    Google Scholar 

  15. Sun L, Xie Z, Zhao J (2000) A 3,000-year record of penguin populations. Nature 407:858

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wang J, Wang Y, Wang X et al (2007) Penguins and vegetations on Ardley Island, Antarctica: evolution in the past 2400 years. Polar Biol 30:1475–1481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang H, Wang Z, Lu B et al (2007) Occurrence of organochlorine pollutants in the eggs and dropping-amended soil of Antarctic large animals and its ecological significance. Sci China Ser D Earth Sci 50:1086–1096

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Huang T, Sun L, Wang Y et al (2009) Penguin population dynamics for the past 8500 years at Gardner Island, Vestfold Hills. Antarctic Sci 21:571–578

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Brassell SC, Eglinton G, Marlowe IT et al (1986) Molecular stratigraphy: a new tool for climatic assessment. Nature 320:129–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Xie S, Liang B, Guo J et al (2003) Biomarkers and the related global change. Quat Sci 23:521–528 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Eglinton TI, Eglinton G (2008) Molecular proxies for paleoclimatology. Earth Plan Sci Lett 275:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang G, Sheng G, Peng P et al (2000) Molecular organic geochemical peculiarities of lacustrine core sediments in Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. Chin Sci Bull 45:67–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Peter H-U, Buesser C, Mustafa O et al (2008) Risk assessment for the Fildes Peninsula and Ardley Island, and development of management plans for their designation as Specially Protected or Specially Managed Areas. German Federal Environment Agency, Dessau-Roßlau

    Google Scholar 

  24. Peter H-U, Braun C, Janowski S et al (2013) The current environmental situation and proposals for the management of the Fildes Peninsula Region. German Federal Environment Agency, Dessau-Roßlau

    Google Scholar 

  25. Appleby PG, Oldfieldz F (1983) The assessment of 210Pb data from sites with varying sediment accumulation rates. Hydrobiologia 103:29–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Liu G, Li D, Yi Y et al (2008) Radionuclide distribution in sediments and sedimentary rates in the Jiaozhou Bay. Acta Geosci Sin 29:769–777 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Volkman JK (2006) Lipid markers for marine organic matter. In: Volkman JK (ed) Marine organic matter: Biomarkers, isotopes and DNA. Springer, Berlin, pp 27–70

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang Z, Zheng G, Yuan J et al (1994) Census of penguins on Ardley Island of western Antarctic. Biodiv Sci 02(Suppl):30–35

    Google Scholar 

  29. Volkman JK, Barrett SM, Blackburn SI et al (1998) Microalgal biomarkers: a review of recent research developments. Org Geochem 29:1163–1179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Woehler EJ, Cooper J, Croxall JP et al (2001) A statistical assessment of the status and trends of Antarctic and Subantarctic seabirds. SCAR, Bozeman

    Google Scholar 

  31. Meyers PA (2003) Applications of organic geochemistry to paleolimnological reconstructions: a summary of examples from the Laurentian Great Lakes. Org Geochem 34:261–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Nott CJ, Xie S, Avsejs LA et al (2000) n-Alkane distributions in ombrotrophic mires as indicators of vegetation change related to climatic variation. Org Geochem 31:231–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Ficken KJ, Li B, Swain DL et al (2000) An n-alkane proxy for the sedimentary input of submerged/floating freshwater aquatic macrophytes. Org Geochem 31:745–749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Ficken KJ, Barber KE, Eglinton G (1998) Lipid biomarker, δ13C and plant macrofossil stratigraphy of a Scottish montane peat bog over the last two millennia. Org Geochem 28:217–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Xie S, Nott CJ, Avsejs LA et al (2000) Palaeoclimate records in compound-specific δD values of a lipid biomarker in ombrotrophic peat. Org Geochem 31:1053–1057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Otto A, Walther H, Püttmann W (1994) Molecular composition of a leaf- and root-bearing Oligocene Oxbow Lake Clay in the Weisselster Basin, Germany. Org Geochem 22:275–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Bölter M, Blume HP, Schneider D et al (1997) Soil properties and distributions of invertebrates and bacteria from King George Island (Arctowski Station), maritime Antarctic. Polar Biol 18:295–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Wang P, Wang F (2009) Phylogenetic diversity of culturable bacteria in lake sediment of Ardley Island, Antarctic. Chin J Polar Sci 21:100–108 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Didyk BM, Simoneit BRT, Brassell SC et al (1978) Organic geochemical indicators of palaeoenvironmental conditions of sedimentation. Nature 272:216–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Kaneda T (1967) Fatty acids in the genus bacillus I. Iso- and anteiso-fatty acids as characteristic constituents of lipids in 10 species. J Bacteriol 93:894–903

    Google Scholar 

  41. Zou L, Sun M-Y, Guo L (2006) Temporal variations of organic carbon inputs into the upper Yukon River: evidence from fatty acids and their stable carbon isotopic compositions in dissolved, colloidal and particulate phases. Org Geochem 37:944–956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Pace ML, Carpenter SR, Cole JJ et al (2007) Does terrestrial organic carbon subsidize the planktonic food web in a clear-water lake? Limnol Oceanogr 52:2177–2189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Bowman JP, Cavanagh J, Austin JJ et al (1996) Novel Psychrobacter species from Antarctic ornithogenic soils. Int J Sys Bacteriol 46:841–848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Romanenko LA, Lysenko AM, Rohde M et al (2004) Psychrobacter maritimus sp. nov. and Psychrobacter arenosus sp. nov., isolated from coastal sea ice and sediments of the Sea of Japan. Int J Sys Evol Microbiol 54:1741–1745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Kawamura K, Ishiwatari R (1981) Polyunsaturated fatty acids in a lacustrine sediment as a possible indicator of paleoclimate. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 45:149–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Chen J, Chu J, Xu L (2004) ENSO events associated with the variation of the antarctic sea ice extent. Ad Water Sci 15:56–60 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Stammerjohn SE, Martinson DG, Smith RC et al (2008) Trends in Antarctic annual sea ice retreat and advance and their relation to El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Southern Annular Mode variability. J Geophys Res 113:03S90. doi:10.1029/2007jc004269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Lizotte MP (2001) The contributions of sea ice algae to Antarctic marine primary production. Am Zool 41:57–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Reiss CS, Hewes CD, Holm-Hansen O (2009) Influence of atmospheric teleconnections and upper circumpolar deep water on phytoplankton biomass around Elephant Island, Antarctica. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 377:51–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Montes-Hugo M, Doney SC, Ducklow HW et al (2009) Recent changes in phytoplankton communities associated with rapid regional climate change along the western Antarctic Peninsula. Science 323:1470–1473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Schofield O, Ducklow HW, Martinson DG et al (2010) How do polar marine ecosystems respond to rapid climate change? Science 328:1520–1523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Cheng Y, Lu L, Bian L et al (2003) The relationship between air temperature of Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctic sea ice oscillation and ENSO. Chin J Polar Res 15:121–128 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expeditions (CHINAREs) and the Federal Environment Agency of Germany for their help during sampling and penguin counting. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40876104 and 41306202), the scientific research fund of Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration (JT1208 and JG1218) and Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration Foundation (20110208).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem and Biogeochemistry, Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou, 310012, China

    Haisheng Zhang, Jun Zhao, Zhengbing Han & Bing Lu

  2. Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany

    Hans-Ulrich Peter

Authors
  1. Haisheng Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jun Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhengbing Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bing Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hans-Ulrich Peter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Haisheng Zhang.

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, H., Zhao, J., Han, Z. et al. Population dynamics of Pygoscelis penguins (1980–2012) and penguin dropping records (1916–2001) on Ardley Island of West Antarctica, in response to ENSO. Chin. Sci. Bull. 59, 437–446 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-013-0030-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-013-0030-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation