Inter-Research
Marine Ecology Progress Series

ABSTRACT: Seven fledging Adélie penguin Pygoscelis adeliae chicks and 4 post-moult adults were satellite tracked using the Argos system during the winters of 1995-97 and 1998, respectively. Six fledglings departed from Béchervaise Island near Mawson station (67°35'S, 62°49'E) during late February of 1996 and 1997 and were tracked for up to 5 mo before transmissions stopped. The 7th fledgling left Magnetic Island near Davis station (68°33'S, 77°54'E) in February 1995 and was tracked for 32 d. All fledglings travelled northward initially, then westward along the edge of the fast ice or in the pack-ice. Fledglings had travelled between 536 and 1931 km to the west of their natal colonies by the time transmissions ceased. Adult Adélie penguins were tracked between March and October 1998, following completion of their annual moult at Bechérvaise Island. Instruments were set to transmit for 2 h every 10th day over the first 5 mo and 1 d in 4 thereafter. Adult birds travelled westward until July, after which time they moved north within the expanding pack-ice into known areas of high krill concentration before returning eastward toward their breeding sites. Penguin movements over the winter months were closely related to those of sea ice in the region. Ice motion patterns were in turn influenced by gyral oceanic current systems and wind. We propose that large gyral oceanic systems provide a means for Adélie penguins to reduce costs of transport as they travel into regions of high productivity during winter and return to their breeding colonies in spring.

KEY WORDS: Adélie penguin · Winter migration · Satellite tracking · Fledglings · Sea-ice motion · Antarctic divergence · East Antarctica · Oceanic gyres

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Published in MEPS Vol. 248 (2003) on February 20
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2003