*F

Spheniscus mendiculus        Galapagos Penguin            Endangered

* -- From Galapagos Islands
*F -- From Floreana
*E-- From Hood (Espanola)

above information from < http://www.iucnredlist.org >
Important Facts:

-small; 16 to 18 inches; about 5 pounds (From “Penguins Around the World)

-lives in marine (open ocean) and terrestrial (rocky coast) environment, strongly depend on cold water current (Humboldt Current) or up-swellings that are rich in nutrients which in turn helps increase the populations of schools of small fish (sardine, mullet)

-small portion of population located on Floreana

-is endemic to the Galapagos

-since it has a small population size, it is extremely vulnerable to extinction; one wrong shift could wipe out entire population – scientists (Birdlife International, for example) think the fluctuations (some fluctuation is normal) in their numbers has been more severe, and their populations seem to be decreasing rather steadily (although this is difficult to measure) – as of 2000, number of individuals was 1,200 and decreasing (Birdlife International)

-possible reasons/threats for decline:  human influence, invasive species(rats, cats, dogs), pollution, natural disasters, increase in temperature (possibly changing sex ratio which doesn’t help recovery), fishing (get stuck in nets), disease (parasites)

-“. . .overall very rapid population reduction of more than 50% in 34 years (three generations)” . . . “In 1971, 1,931 penguins were counted, equating to a population of 3,400 individuals.  The 1982-1983 El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) reduced the population by 77%.  After this, the population entered a slow recovery phase.  However, the 1997-1998 ENSO caused a further decline of 66%.  The population may now be in another recovery phase and, in 1999, numbered 1,200 individuals.  It is sedentary and may forage within 10 km of the shore.  (from Birdlife International)

-reproductive rates are low (only reproduce if resources are available-abundant food, etc), and chicks have a high mortality rate (invasive species? parasites?) . . . (from Birdlife International); lay two eggs, but generally end up raising one chick

-all populations are in Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserves (that’s good!), and populations are currently being monitored

Ideas/Solutions for Conservation:

-Galapagos penguin populations might be a good way to monitor the ecosystem; considering they are very sensitive to change, if their populations were to dip dramatically, then others may be affected or soon be affected by such change

-possibly setting up nesting areas or nesting boxes away from predators so the populations get a chance to recover

-limit or completely restrict the use of nets for fishing around penguin feeding grounds



Sources:
IUCN 2003. 2003 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.redlist.org>. Downloaded on 2 October 2004.

BirdLife International (2004) Species factsheet: Laterallus spilonotus. Downloaded from <http://www.birdlife.org on 10/16/2004>

Penguins Around the World; Galapagos Penguins <http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/proj/penguins/galap.html> Last modified: 06/20/2000

Galapagos penguin; Spheniscus mendiculus  (BCC) British Broadcasting Corporation  (2004). <http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/364.shtml>
 

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