Important Next Steps

Long term studies such as this one are important in helping us understand what effects humans are having on the environment and training the next generation of conservation biologists. Some of the changes we're seeing in the penguin populations are subtle, and would go undetected in a shorter study. Some of the questions we are answering include: How does climate variation changes foraging patterns? And, Do couples stay together for the 6 months they are at sea? We know that changes in penguin behavior can tell us when something is happening in the environment. What exactly they are telling us, unfortunately, is becoming clear. The number of breeding pairs of Magellanic penguins at Punta Tombo has declined about 20% in 15 years. We don't have much time to ignore the message. For the next decade we will be using the penguins to help in making human ocean uses more compatible with wildlife. One of the first steps is to zone the South Atlantic Ocean with wildlife in mind, and reduce the conflicts between people and wildlife.

Learn more about current issues for the Magellanic Penguins.