Research, including penguins and other threatened seabirds
The West Coast Penguin Trust raises money to conduct research into penguins and threatened seabirds within the region. Without the work of the Trust we would know very little about the status, or threats, to blue penguins on the West Coast and we are learning more about Fiordland crested penguins and Westland petrels in order to implement practical and appropriate conservation management.
Penguin bill measurement
Research supported by the Trust has investigated breeding biology and breeding success, and quantified threats faced by blue penguins in the Charleston and Okarito areas.
Current projects include a blue penguin foraging study using GIS technology, pre-predator control monitoring of Fiordland crested penguins in South Westland and a review of the conservation management priorities for Westland petrels.
Recent Research
New breeding records of seabirds at Carnley Harbour (Auckland Islands), Cossack Rock (Campbell Island) and south coast of The Snares Notornis, 2018, Vol. 65: 168-173, Kerry-Jayne Wilson et al, September 2018
Wilson_etal_Nortornis 65_168-173 New breeding records of seabirds, subantarctic islands
Marathon penguins – Reasons and consequences of long-range dispersal in Fiordland penguins / Tawaki during the pre-moult period PLOS One, Thomas Mattern et al inc. Robin Long, August 2018
Threats and Threat Status of the Westland Petrel Procellaria Westlandica, Marine Ornithology
Threats and Threat Status of the Westland Petrel, Dr Susan Waugh and Kerry-Jayne Wilson, Oct 2017
A review of the biology and ecology and an evaluation of threats to the Westland petrel Procellaria westlandica, by Kerry-Jayne Wilson.
Westland petrel threats report, June 2016 (Kerry-Jayne Wilson)
Research outputs - blue penguins
Predation by mustelids is not a significant cause of breeding failure of blue penguins on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand.
Effect of habitat features on the breeding success of the blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) on the West Coast of New Zealand
NZ Journal of Zoology abstract July 2011
Conservation of the Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand
Conservation of the Blue Penguin - (PDF 2.1MB)
Breeding biology and breeding success of the blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island
Breeding biology and breeding success of the blue penguin - (PDF 1.1MB)
Conservation of the Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand
West Coast Penguin Poster - (PDF 1.6MB)
Mortality of Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand, summary statistics, 2005-2013
Mortality of blue penguins, summary graphs and statistics
Abstracts from Oamaru Penguin Symposium, July 2014, published in the NZ Journal of Zoology. Includes paper from Trust Chair, KJ Wilson, relating to climate change and the impact on Adelie penguins and papers covering Fiordland crested penguins and blue penguins
NZJoZ publication Oamaru Penguin Symposium 2014 Abstracts
Click here for more on the Trust’s outputs 2005-2010
Blue Penguin Monitoring & Predator Control
Trust Ranger, Reuben Lane, with burrow scope
The Trust monitors long-term population and breeding trends of penguin colonies on the Coast. Detailed investigation is carried out, looking at colony size, breeding pair numbers, fledgling success, and the impact of predators. West Coast Penguin Trust ranger, Reuben Lane, is responsible for predator control and monitoring of blue penguin populations between Punakaiki and Westport. In conjunction with the Department of Conservation, the Trust has also monitored penguin colonies at Okarito, and the Wanganui River Mouth at HariHari.
See separate page for Fiordland crested penguins / tawaki
Other Trust related research
The impact of the giant iceberg B09B on population size and breeding success of Adélie penguins in Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica: Antarctic Science 2016. Kerry-Jayne Wilson, Chris S.M. Turney, Christopher J. Fogwill And Estelle Blair
And see short video here: Giant iceberg decimates Adélie penguin colony at Cape Denison
Follow up news and interview: Clarification, interview etc
Climate research study related to the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 2013-4 with input by Kerry-Jayne Wilson.
AAE 2013-14 Seabird monitoring report and recommendations (led by Kerry-Jayne Wilson, Dec 2017): http://www.bluepenguin.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Observations-of-seabirds-on-the-Auckland-Islands-and-Campbell-Island-during-AAE-expedition-2013-14-Dec-20171.pdf
Penguin Research Generally
Penguin research papers and references have been collated for easy access here: Penguin Biology and Conservation Papers
Coalescent Modelling Suggests Recent Secondary-Contact of Cryptic Penguin Species
Stefanie Grosser, Christopher Burridge, Amanda J Peucker, Jonathan M Waters
PLoS ONE (Impact Factor: 3.23). 12/2015; 10.1371 0144966
Abstract: Molecular genetic analyses present powerful tools for elucidating demographic and biogeographic histories of taxa. Here we present genetic evidence showing a dynamic history for two cryptic lineages within Eudyptula, the world’s smallest penguin. Specifically, we use a suite of genetic markers to reveal that two congeneric taxa (‘Australia’ and ‘New Zealand’) co-occur in southern New Zealand, with only low levels of hybridization. Coalescent modelling suggests that the Australian little penguin only recently expanded into southern New Zealand. Analyses conducted under time-dependent molecular evolutionary rates lend support to the hypothesis of recent anthropogenic turnover, consistent with shifts detected in several other New Zealand coastal vertebrate taxa. This apparent turnover event highlights the dynamic nature of the region’s coastal ecosystem.
Related news story: http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/75154114/new-research-proves-little-blue-penguins-in-australia-and-nz-are-different-species
Paper prepared by Kerry-Jayne Wilson (WCPT) and Helen Otley (DOC) following a workshop at the 9th Oamaru Penguin Symposium, 2014:
Penguin Research Priorities, August 2014
Paper prepared by Helen Otley (DOC) following a second workshop at the 9th Oamaru Penguin Symposium, 2014:
Penguin Research Priorities Workshop - Actions, 2014
Other Research
Low numbers and apparent long-term stability of South Polar Skuas Stercorarius maccormicki at Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica
A review of the distribution and size of prion colonies throughout New Zealand, 2016
