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Geochemical evidence for rapid enlargement of a gentoo penguin colony on Barton Peninsula in the maritime Antarctic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2005

RENBIN ZHU ,
LIGUANG SUN ,
XUEBIN YIN ,
ZHOUQING XIE  and
XIAODONG LIU
RENBIN ZHU
Affiliation:
Institute of Polar Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui Province 230026, China
LIGUANG SUN
Affiliation:
Institute of Polar Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui Province 230026, China
XUEBIN YIN
Affiliation:
Institute of Polar Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui Province 230026, China
ZHOUQING XIE
Affiliation:
Institute of Polar Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui Province 230026, China
XIAODONG LIU
Affiliation:
Institute of Polar Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui Province 230026, China
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Abstract

Gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua is an important component of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. In this paper, we use an indirect approach, a geochemical method combining with 137Cs and 210Pb CRS mode dating, to study the dynamics of the gentoo population and colony on Barton Peninsula, King George Island, in the maritime Antarctic. Five sediment profiles were sampled in the zone between the gentoo penguin colony and tundra vegetation on this peninsula and the sediment sequence and typical elements from penguin guano were analysed. Results showed that the levels for typical elements display a dramatic change at around 5 cm depth, indicating the strong impact of penguin guano. The sediments below 5 cm showed lower concentrations in these elements, suggesting that these sediments had received little impact from penguin guano. By Q-mode factor analysis, a method for decomposing multiple factors, we found that over the past sixty years the gentoo colony showed a rapid enlargement and the tundra vegetation had been destroyed. Possible factors responsible for the enlargement of the penguin colony are tentatively discussed.

Keywords

King George Islandpenguin guanoPygoscelis papuageochemistry
Type
Research Article
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , March 2005 , pp. 11 - 16
Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2005

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