MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin research

Penguin research

Punta Arenas press reports that three Chilean scientists were flown last weekend to President Frei Antarctic station for a four months research study in South Shetland islands penguin colonies, officially beginning the Antarctic season.

The program concentrates in the Adelia, (Pygocelis adeliae), Papua (Pygocelis papua) and Antarctic (Pygocelis Antarctic) penguins living in Ardley island, that have been monitored for the last twenty years trying to determine human impact in their live hood and environment since they feed mainly on krill, fished by man, and aircrafts land in nearby stations.

Ardley is a protected area, only for scientists, since the three different penguin varieties nest in the island. The latest census polled 4,000 Papua pairs, 1,000 Adelia and 32 Antarctic.

"Although we have been collecting data for two decades it's still too early for conclusions. Different factors influence penguins behavior, and each has a different impact in the different penguins", said biologist Javier González.

Chileans will also be working with the Koreans in Nelson island, basically exchanging data and trying to determine time and distance penguins must swim to feed adequately.