Retreating Shorelines as an Emerging Threat to Adélie Penguins on Inexpressible Island

Long-term observation of penguin abundance and distribution may warn of changes in the Antarctic marine ecosystem and provide support for penguin conservation. We conducted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey of the Adélie penguin (<i>Pygoscelis adeliae</i>) colony on Inexpressible I...

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Main Authors: Xintong Chen, Jiquan Chen, Xiao Cheng, Lizhong Zhu, Bing Li, Xianglan Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-11-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/22/4718
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author Xintong Chen
Jiquan Chen
Xiao Cheng
Lizhong Zhu
Bing Li
Xianglan Li
author_facet Xintong Chen
Jiquan Chen
Xiao Cheng
Lizhong Zhu
Bing Li
Xianglan Li
author_sort Xintong Chen
collection DOAJ
description Long-term observation of penguin abundance and distribution may warn of changes in the Antarctic marine ecosystem and provide support for penguin conservation. We conducted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey of the Adélie penguin (<i>Pygoscelis adeliae</i>) colony on Inexpressible Island and obtained aerial images with a resolution of 0.07 m in 2018. We estimated penguin abundance and identified the spatial extent of the penguin colony. A total of 24,497 breeding pairs were found on Inexpressible Island within a colony area of 57,507 m<sup>2</sup>. Based on historical images, the colony area expanded by 30,613 m<sup>2</sup> and abundance increased by 4063 pairs between 1983 and 2012. Between 2012 and 2018 penguin abundance further increased by 3314 pairs, although the colony area decreased by 1903 m<sup>2</sup>. In general, Adélie penguins bred on Inexpressible Island at an elevation <20 m, and >55% of penguins had territories within 150 m of the shoreline. This suggests that penguins prefer to breed in areas with a low elevation and close to the shoreline. We observed a retreat of the shoreline on Inexpressible Island between 1983 and 2018, especially along the northern coast, which may have played a key role in the expansion of the penguin colony on the northern coast. In sum, it appears that retreating shorelines reshaped penguin distribution on the island and may be an emerging risk factor for penguins. These results highlight the importance of remote sensing techniques for monitoring changes in the Antarctic marine ecosystem and providing reliable data for Antarctic penguin conservation.
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spelling doaj.art-bd7228acbc604f7894ac9a19f4d2afea2023-11-23T01:22:12ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-11-011322471810.3390/rs13224718Retreating Shorelines as an Emerging Threat to Adélie Penguins on Inexpressible IslandXintong Chen0Jiquan Chen1Xiao Cheng2Lizhong Zhu3Bing Li4Xianglan Li5State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science and College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaDepartment of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USASchool of Geospatial Engineering and Science, Sun Yat-Sen University and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, ChinaHeilongjiang Bureau of Surveying and Mapping Geographic Information, Harbin 150081, ChinaHeilongjiang Geomatics Center of NASG, Harbin 150081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science and College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaLong-term observation of penguin abundance and distribution may warn of changes in the Antarctic marine ecosystem and provide support for penguin conservation. We conducted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey of the Adélie penguin (<i>Pygoscelis adeliae</i>) colony on Inexpressible Island and obtained aerial images with a resolution of 0.07 m in 2018. We estimated penguin abundance and identified the spatial extent of the penguin colony. A total of 24,497 breeding pairs were found on Inexpressible Island within a colony area of 57,507 m<sup>2</sup>. Based on historical images, the colony area expanded by 30,613 m<sup>2</sup> and abundance increased by 4063 pairs between 1983 and 2012. Between 2012 and 2018 penguin abundance further increased by 3314 pairs, although the colony area decreased by 1903 m<sup>2</sup>. In general, Adélie penguins bred on Inexpressible Island at an elevation <20 m, and >55% of penguins had territories within 150 m of the shoreline. This suggests that penguins prefer to breed in areas with a low elevation and close to the shoreline. We observed a retreat of the shoreline on Inexpressible Island between 1983 and 2018, especially along the northern coast, which may have played a key role in the expansion of the penguin colony on the northern coast. In sum, it appears that retreating shorelines reshaped penguin distribution on the island and may be an emerging risk factor for penguins. These results highlight the importance of remote sensing techniques for monitoring changes in the Antarctic marine ecosystem and providing reliable data for Antarctic penguin conservation.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/22/4718UAV surveypenguin abundancecolony spatial extentshorelineelevation
spellingShingle Xintong Chen
Jiquan Chen
Xiao Cheng
Lizhong Zhu
Bing Li
Xianglan Li
Retreating Shorelines as an Emerging Threat to Adélie Penguins on Inexpressible Island
Remote Sensing
UAV survey
penguin abundance
colony spatial extent
shoreline
elevation
title Retreating Shorelines as an Emerging Threat to Adélie Penguins on Inexpressible Island
title_full Retreating Shorelines as an Emerging Threat to Adélie Penguins on Inexpressible Island
title_fullStr Retreating Shorelines as an Emerging Threat to Adélie Penguins on Inexpressible Island
title_full_unstemmed Retreating Shorelines as an Emerging Threat to Adélie Penguins on Inexpressible Island
title_short Retreating Shorelines as an Emerging Threat to Adélie Penguins on Inexpressible Island
title_sort retreating shorelines as an emerging threat to adelie penguins on inexpressible island
topic UAV survey
penguin abundance
colony spatial extent
shoreline
elevation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/22/4718
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AT jiquanchen retreatingshorelinesasanemergingthreattoadeliepenguinsoninexpressibleisland
AT xiaocheng retreatingshorelinesasanemergingthreattoadeliepenguinsoninexpressibleisland
AT lizhongzhu retreatingshorelinesasanemergingthreattoadeliepenguinsoninexpressibleisland
AT bingli retreatingshorelinesasanemergingthreattoadeliepenguinsoninexpressibleisland
AT xianglanli retreatingshorelinesasanemergingthreattoadeliepenguinsoninexpressibleisland