Eudyptes chrysolophus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	SPHENISCIFORMES	SPHENISCIDAE

Scientific Name:

Eudyptes chrysolophus

Species Authority:

(Brandt, 1837)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Macaroni Penguin
French	–	Gorfou doré

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2bc+3bc+4bc ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Calvert, R., Butchart, S., Bird, J.

Contributor/s:

Micol, T., Crawford, R., Croxall, J., Nisbet, I., Weimerskirsch, H.

Justification:
This species qualifies as Vulnerable because the global population appears to have declined rapidly over the last three generations (36 years). However, this classification relies heavily on extrapolation from small-scale data, and large-scale surveys are needed to confirm the categorisation.

History:

2008	–	Vulnerable
2005	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Eudyptes chrysolophus breeds in at least 216 colonies at 50 sites^7,8, including southern Chile, the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), South Georgia (Georgia del Sur) and the South Sandwich Islands (Islas Sandwich del Sur), the South Orkney and South Shetland Islands, Bouvet Island (to Norway), Prince Edward and Marion Islands (South Africa), Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands (French Southern Territories), Heard and McDonald Islands (to Australia) and very locally on the Antarctic Peninsula. The total population is c.9 million pairs, with main populations at Ile des Pingouins (Crozet), Heard and McDonald (c.1 million pairs each) Kerguelen (c.1.8 million pairs) and South Georgia (c.2.5 million pairs)³. The South Georgia and Bouvet populations probably increased substantially in the 1960s and early 1970s, but have subsequently decreased. Study populations at South Georgia decreased by 65% in 12 years (1986-1998)² and the overall South Georgia population has probably halved over the last 20 years⁵. Study populations on Marion have decreased by 50% over 30 years (1979-1998)¹. Populations on Kerguelen increased by c.1% per annum between 1962 and 1985, and subsequent data from 1998 indicated that colonies were stable or increasing⁶. Populations in South America may be stable but data are few. Satellite tracking of individuals during winter revealed that individuals from Kerguelen spent most of their time in a previously unrecognized foraging area, i.e. a narrow latitudinal band (47-49 degrees S) within the central Indian Ocean (70-110 degrees E), corresponding oceanographically to the Polar Frontal Zone⁹.
Countries:	Native: Antarctica; Argentina; Bouvet Island; Chile; Falkland Islands (Malvinas); French Southern Territories (the); Heard Island and McDonald Islands; South Africa; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States Vagrant: Brazil; New Zealand; Saint Helena
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The total population is c.9 million pairs, with main populations at Ile des Pingouins (Crozet), Heard and McDonald (c.1 million pairs each) Kerguelen (c.1.8 million pairs) and South Georgia (c.2.5 million pairs)(Ellis et al. 1998)
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

The total population is c.9 million pairs, with main populations at Ile des Pingouins (Crozet), Heard and McDonald (c.1 million pairs each) Kerguelen (c.1.8 million pairs) and South Georgia (c.2.5 million pairs)(Ellis et al. 1998)

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It nests on level to steep ground, often walking hundreds of metres across steep screes to nest-sites. Breeding areas usually have little or no vegetation due to erosion by birds. It feeds mainly on small krill⁴, though individuals from the Kerguelen Islands foraging in the Indian Ocean during winter do not feed on krill, taking other crustaceans instead⁹.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The only known threats at its main breeding grounds are those common to all Southern Ocean species, such as the existing and potential impact of commercial fishing, ocean warming³, although oil pollution is no longer considered a likely threat¹⁰.

Major Threat(s):

The only known threats at its main breeding grounds are those common to all Southern Ocean species, such as the existing and potential impact of commercial fishing, ocean warming³, although oil pollution is no longer considered a likely threat¹⁰.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Long-term monitoring programmes are in place at several breeding colonies³. Most breeding islands are protected as reserves of various kinds and Heard and McDonald Islands are a World Heritage Site. Conservation Actions Proposed Survey or resurvey all main breeding populations at major breeding sites, and maintain monitoring programmes at selected sites. Research distribution outside breeding season. Research demography, reproductive performance and foraging ecology³.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Long-term monitoring programmes are in place at several breeding colonies³. Most breeding islands are protected as reserves of various kinds and Heard and McDonald Islands are a World Heritage Site.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey or resurvey all main breeding populations at major breeding sites, and maintain monitoring programmes at selected sites. Research distribution outside breeding season. Research demography, reproductive performance and foraging ecology³.

Bibliography [top]

	Bost, C. A.; Thiebot, J. B.; Pinaud, D.; Cherel, Y.; Trathan, P. N. 2009. Where do penguins go during the inter-breeding period? Using geolocation to track the winter dispersion of the Macaroni Penguin. Biology Letters 5: 473-476. Ellis, S.; Croxall, J. P.; Cooper, J. 1998. Penguin conservation assessment and management plan: report from the workshop held 8-9 September 1996, Cape Town, South Africa. IUCN/SSC, Apple Valley, USA. Marchant, S.; Higgins, P. J. 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds, 1: ratites to ducks. Oxford University Press, Melbourne. Trathan, P. N.; Croxall, J. P.; Murphy, E. J.; Everson, I. 1998. Use of at-sea distribution data to derive potential foraging ranges of macaroni penguins during the breeding season. Marine Ecology Progress Series 169: 263-275. Woehler, E. J. 1993. The distribution and abundance of Antarctic and Subantarctic penguins. Scientific Commission on Antarctic Research, Cambridge, U.K. Woehler, E. J.; Croxall, J. P. 1999. The status and trends of Antarctic and subantarctic seabirds. Marine Ornithology 25: 43-66.

Bost, C. A.; Thiebot, J. B.; Pinaud, D.; Cherel, Y.; Trathan, P. N. 2009. Where do penguins go during the inter-breeding period? Using geolocation to track the winter dispersion of the Macaroni Penguin. Biology Letters 5: 473-476.

Ellis, S.; Croxall, J. P.; Cooper, J. 1998. Penguin conservation assessment and management plan: report from the workshop held 8-9 September 1996, Cape Town, South Africa. IUCN/SSC, Apple Valley, USA.

Marchant, S.; Higgins, P. J. 1990. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds, 1: ratites to ducks. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Trathan, P. N.; Croxall, J. P.; Murphy, E. J.; Everson, I. 1998. Use of at-sea distribution data to derive potential foraging ranges of macaroni penguins during the breeding season. Marine Ecology Progress Series 169: 263-275.

Woehler, E. J. 1993. The distribution and abundance of Antarctic and Subantarctic penguins. Scientific Commission on Antarctic Research, Cambridge, U.K.

Woehler, E. J.; Croxall, J. P. 1999. The status and trends of Antarctic and subantarctic seabirds. Marine Ornithology 25: 43-66.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Eudyptes chrysolophus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2012.
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