Eudyptes chrysocome

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	SPHENISCIFORMES	SPHENISCIDAE

Scientific Name:

Eudyptes chrysocome

Species Authority:

(Forster, 1781)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Rockhopper Penguin, Southern Rockhopper Penguin

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2abcde+3bcde+4abcde ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

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

Contributor/s:

Gales, R., Huin, N., Schiavini, A., Moore, P., Kirkwood, R., Hilton, G.

Justification:
This species has been classified as Vulnerable owing to rapid population declines, which, although they have been ongoing for perhaps a century, appear to have worsened in recent years.

History:

2008	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Not Recognized
2000	–	Not Recognized
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Eudyptes chrysocome occurs as two similar subspecies. E. c. chrysocome breeds on the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and a number of offshore islands in southern Chile and Argentina (Staten Island:173,793 pairs in 1999¹⁵, Isla Ildefonso: 86,400 pairs in 2002, Diego Ramirez : 132,721 pairs in 2002, Isla Noir: 134,000 pairs in 2003, Isla Pinguino: 414 pairs in 2000¹⁵). Subspecies E. c. filholi breeds on Prince Edward and Marion Islands (South Africa), Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands (French Southern Territories), Heard Island (Heard and McDonald Islands [to Australia]), Macquarie Island (Australia) (32 000-43 000 pairs in 2006/07 - much lower than previous estimates) and Campbell, Auckland and Antipodes Islands (New Zealand), where declines have been noted on all islands and now perhaps only a couple of hundred thousand birds remain. Other than the populations in Chile and Argentina, where population trends are unclear (although there have been declines at least locally¹²), all other subpopulations have undergone severe declines²: for example, 90% in 60 years in the Falklands (declined from 1.5 million pairs in the 1930's to 210,418 pairs in 2007), 40% in 13 years (1985-1998) on Marion (150,000)², and 94% since the 1940s on Campbell (51,500 in 1985)^1,14.
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Chile; Falkland Islands (Malvinas); Heard Island and McDonald Islands; New Zealand; South Africa Present - origin uncertain: Australia; French Southern Territories (the); Uruguay
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There are perhaps 210,418 pairs on the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and large populations on a number of offshore islands in southern Chile and Argentina (Staten Island: 173,793 pairs in 1998, Isla Ildefonso: 86,400 pairs in 2002, Diego Ramirez: 132,721 pairs in 2002, Isla Noir: 134,000 pairs in 2003). As well as on Prince Edward and Marion Islands (150,000) (South Africa), Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands (French Southern Territories), Heard Island (Heard and McDonald Islands [to Australia]), Macquarie Island (Australia) (32,000-43,000 pairs in 2006/07 - much lower than previous estimates) and Campbell (51,500 in 1985), Auckland and Antipodes Islands (New Zealand), where declines have been noted on all islands and now perhaps only a couple of hundred thousand birds (at most) remain.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

There are perhaps 210,418 pairs on the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and large populations on a number of offshore islands in southern Chile and Argentina (Staten Island: 173,793 pairs in 1998, Isla Ildefonso: 86,400 pairs in 2002, Diego Ramirez: 132,721 pairs in 2002, Isla Noir: 134,000 pairs in 2003). As well as on Prince Edward and Marion Islands (150,000) (South Africa), Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands (French Southern Territories), Heard Island (Heard and McDonald Islands [to Australia]), Macquarie Island (Australia) (32,000-43,000 pairs in 2006/07 - much lower than previous estimates) and Campbell (51,500 in 1985), Auckland and Antipodes Islands (New Zealand), where declines have been noted on all islands and now perhaps only a couple of hundred thousand birds (at most) remain.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It breeds in colonies, from sea-level to cliff-tops, and sometimes inland. It feeds on krill and other crustaceans, squid, octopus and fish⁷.
Systems:

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Increasing disturbance and pollution results from ecotourism and fishing². Food supplies may be affected by squid fisheries, climate change and shifts in marine food webs^1,3,9. In Patagonian coastal waters (an important wintering ground for the Falklands population⁴) hydrocarbon exploitation is a threat². Rock-lobster fisheries have previously used birds for bait^5,6. On Auckland, Macquarie and Kerguelen, introduced predators may affect breeding success². The massive mortality event on the Falklands in 2002/3 was due to a Harmful Algal Bloom¹³.

Major Threat(s):

Increasing disturbance and pollution results from ecotourism and fishing². Food supplies may be affected by squid fisheries, climate change and shifts in marine food webs^1,3,9. In Patagonian coastal waters (an important wintering ground for the Falklands population⁴) hydrocarbon exploitation is a threat². Rock-lobster fisheries have previously used birds for bait^5,6. On Auckland, Macquarie and Kerguelen, introduced predators may affect breeding success². The massive mortality event on the Falklands in 2002/3 was due to a Harmful Algal Bloom¹³.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Regular monitoring is undertaken on the Falklands, Marion, and Campbell Islands^8,10. Several ecological and demographic studies have been undertaken^2,3. Many islands with breeding colonies are reserves. Recent research attempts to determine the cause of historic declines using stable isotope analysis of museum skins⁹. Conservation Actions Proposed Continue or start to monitor all populations, to assess trends³. Investigate the possible impact of oil exploitation³. Conduct studies to assess interactions with commercial fisheries². Study the potential impacts of climate change. Assess the threat from introduced predators. Reduce disturbance from ecotourism through the use of codes of conduct.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Regular monitoring is undertaken on the Falklands, Marion, and Campbell Islands^8,10. Several ecological and demographic studies have been undertaken^2,3. Many islands with breeding colonies are reserves. Recent research attempts to determine the cause of historic declines using stable isotope analysis of museum skins⁹.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue or start to monitor all populations, to assess trends³. Investigate the possible impact of oil exploitation³. Conduct studies to assess interactions with commercial fisheries². Study the potential impacts of climate change. Assess the threat from introduced predators. Reduce disturbance from ecotourism through the use of codes of conduct.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Eudyptes chrysocome. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 February 2012.
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