Pygoscelis papua

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Taxonomy [top]

Assessment Information [top]

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Pygoscelis papua breeds on South Georgia (Georgia del Sur) and the South Sandwich Islands (Islas Sandwich del Sur), the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), the South Orkney and South Shetland Islands, Prince Edward and Marion Islands (South Africa), Crozet and Kerguelen Islands (French Southern Territories), Heard Island (Heard and McDonald Islands [to Australia]) and Macquarie Island (Australia), and the Antarctic Peninsula. The total (minimum) population has been estimated at 314,000 pairs6. Populations on the Antarctic Peninsula (25% of the total) are increasing at most sites, some (e.g. Signy Island) have doubled in the last 20 years3. Conversely, populations at sub-Antarctic islands (75% of the total) may have decreased substantially. For example, populations at Bird Island (the only monitored population at South Georgia - 33% of the total) decreased by c.67% over the last 25 years4, at Marion Island (3% of the total) by 11% over the period 1994-19971 and on the Falklands (21% of the total) by c.45% from 1932/33-1995/952. More recent surveys on the Falklands have shown the population to have increased from 65,000 pairs in 1995-96 to 113,000 pairs in 20007, whilst a suggested increase at Macquarie needs confirming5. Threats include disturbance by humans, local pollution, and potential interactions with fisheries5.
Countries:	Native: Antarctica; Argentina; Falkland Islands (Malvinas); French Southern Territories (the); Heard Island and McDonald Islands; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Vagrant: Australia; New Zealand; Saint Helena; South Africa
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]