The Ad lie Penguin: Bellwether of Climate Change

David G. Ainley

Columbia University Press, 2002 - Nature - 310 pages

The Adélie penguin is one of the best-studied birds in the world and is the subject of research programs from a dozen nations interested in monitoring changes in the environment and the food webs of the Southern Ocean. This species' population has been changing dramatically over the past few decades coincident with a general warming of the maritime portion of Antarctica. When the sea-ice is seen to decline so does the population of Adélie penguins. Further south, however, the population is increasing.

This book summarizes our present ecological knowledge of this polar seabird. In so doing, David Ainley describes the ecological factors important to its life history and details the mechanisms by which it is responding to climate change. The author also chronicles the history of research on Adélie penguins, beginning with the heroic expeditions at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Weaving together history, ecology, natural history, and written accounts from the earliest Antarctic naturalists into a fascinating account of this charismatic bird, The Adélie Penguin provides a foundation upon which future ornithological research and environmental monitoring can be based. It is a model for investigations into the effect of climate change on a particular species. The book also contains many fine illustrations from the accomplished illustrator Lucia deLeiris and photographs by the author.

Contents

• III: 1
• IV: 15
• V: 18
• VI: 25
• VII: 43
• VIII: 51
• IX: 55
• X: 65
• XI: 67
• XII: 69
• XIII: 74
• XIV: 85
• XV: 88
• XVI: 90
• XVII: 99
• XVIII: 100
• XIX: 102
• XX: 106
• XXI: 110
• XXII: 112
• XXIII: 121
• XXIV: 127
• XXV: 131
• XXVI: 136
• XXVII: 141
• XXVIII: 146
• XXIX: 150
• XXX: 158
• XXXI: 165
• XXXII: 170
• XXXIII: 171
• XXXIV: 172
• XXXV: 175
• XXXVI: 181
• XXXVII: 183
• XXXVIII: 185
• XXXIX: 191
• XL: 196
• XLI: 199
• XLII: 200
• XLIII: 203
• XLIV: 210
• XLV: 219
• XLVI: 222
• XLVII: 224
• XLVIII: 230
• XLIX: 236
• L: 241
• LI: 247
• LII: 251
• LIII: 257
• LIV: 266
• LV: 269
• LVI: 303

Popular passages

Page 7 - ... the whole surface of the island, along the ledges of the precipices, and even to the summits of the hills, attacking us vigorously as we waded through their ranks, and pecking at us with their sharp beaks, disputing possession : which, together with their loud coarse notes, and the insupportable stench from the deep bed of guano, which had been forming for ages, and which may at some period be valuable to the agriculturists of our Australian colonies, made us glad to get away again, after having...‎

Page 6 - I then immediately sent one of our men to unfurl the tricolour flag on this land, which no human creature had either seen or stepped on before. Following the ancient custom, faithfully kept up by the English...‎

Page 7 - It is situated in latitude 71'' 56' and longitude 171° 7' east, composed entirely of igneous rocks, and only accessible^ on its western side. We saw not the smallest appearance of vegetation, but inconceivable myriads of penguins completely and densely covered the whole surface of the island, along the ledges of the precipices, and even to the summits of the hills, attacking us vigorously as we waded through their ranks, and pecking at us with their sharp beaks, disputing possession. : which, together...‎

Page 7 - The ceremony of taking possession of these newly-discovered lands in the name of our most gracious sovereign Queen Victoria was immediately proceeded with ; and on planting the flag of our country amidst the hearty cheers of our party, we drank to the health, long life, and happiness of her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert. The island was named Possession Island. It is situated in latitude 71° 56' and longitude 171° 7' east, composed entirely of igneous rocks, and only accessible on...‎

Page 273 - WR and WZ Trivelpiece (1996). Factors controlling the distribution of seabirds: Winter-summer heterogeneity in the distribution of Adelie penguin populations.‎

Page 273 - The Distribution, Abundance and Community Structure of Marine Birds in Southern Drake Passage and Bransfield Strait, Antarctica.‎

Page 277 - Diel Dive Depth in Penguins in Relation to Diel Vertical Migration of Prey: Whose Dinner by Candlelight?‎

Page 280 - Volkman. 1990. Adelie and Chinstrap penguins: their potential as monitors of the Southern Ocean marine ecosystem, in Antarctic ecosystems: ecological change and conservation.‎

Page 56 - These curious birds actually followed our ships, answering the call of the sailors who imitated their cry ; and, although they could not scramble over the ice so fast as our ships sailed past it...‎

About the author

David Ainley is an environmental consultant based in Sausalito, California. He has researched the Adélie penguin for over thirty years and has made twenty-two trips to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. He is author of three books and over one hundred and fifty scientific papers.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Ad lie Penguin: Bellwether of Climate Change; The Adélie Penguin: Bellwether of Climate Change, David G. Ainley
• Author: David G. Ainley
• Illustrated by: Lucia deLeiris
• Contributor: Lucia deLeiris
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Columbia University Press, 2002
• ISBN: 023112306X, 9780231123068
• Length: 310 pages
• Subjects: Nature / Birdwatching Guides; Science / Life Sciences / Ecology