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The Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi) and Galapagos waved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) are endemic to the Galapagos archipelago and Ecuador.
They can now be found on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. The population status of these island species is being monitored on a yearly basis with our partners at the Galapagos National Park Directorate.
Principal Investigator
Christian Sevilla (GNPD); Kate P. Huyvaert (CSU); Patricia Parker (UM); R. Lenin Vinueza, Diego Páez, David Egas (USFQ); Hernán Vargas (PF); Michael P. Harris (CEH), Karine Laroucau, Gina Zanella (ANSES); Andreas Nord (LU); Peter L. Pap (BBU).
This research seeks to understand the populations survival of the Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus), flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi) and Galapagos albatross (Phoebastria irrorata), threatened by climate change, introduced species, pathogens, human interactions and non-infectious diseases, which is important for long-term conservation of these species.
The CDF-GNPD team, with the collaboration of Ecuadorian and international universities, are working on ecological monitoring in these marine bird nesting zones on Fernandina, Isabela, Española islands and Mariela islets.
The main goal of this project is to generate information to know the population status (survival) and determine spatial-temporal changes, identify threats (introduced species and pathogens) and know the impact of climatic and oceanographic variability in the reproductive colonies, which will serve to improve the management plan of the species in the long term. In addition, understand their adaptation to the site where they live under various environmental conditions.
Three population monitoring were made in 2017 and 2018. As a result of this study, the population of penguins had a recovery in relation to 2016, which was evidenced by Gustavo Jiménez and his team. While the population of the flightless cormorant population hit the second population record since this research began in 1977. Albatross population monitoring had the highest capture/recapture rate for individuals since 2010. Findings showed 60% nesting in study quadrants.
Our studies showed that reproduction in natural nests, control of introduced species, understanding the species’ ecology and health were fundamental to comprehend these populations’ dynamics. In Addition, new cases of incidental fishing of penguins with drift nets were found.
Now, we are analyzing the presence of heavy metals, by sex, in all three species of marine birds. We will also distinguish Galapagos penguins by the spots on their chests, using photographic identification. We will validate ecological differences among feeding zones of Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants and Galapagos albatrosses, using analysis of stable isotopes.
Keywords: Marine Birds, Spheniscus mendiculus, Phalacrocorax harrisi, Phoebastria irrorata, climate change, introduced species, pathogens, human interactions, non-infectious diseases.