OIL POLLUTION OF ANTARCTIC PENGUINS - EFFECTS ON ENERGY-METABOLISM AND PHYSIOLOGY

In the vicinity of Antarctic stations, the environment and associated wildlife are threatened by pollution. We propose that penguins are particularly susceptible and present behavioural and physiological data on oiled Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) in air and in water compared to non-oiled birds. In air, oiled penguins had reduced heart rate (90 vs. 98 bpm), body temperature (38.6 vs. 39.2-degrees-C) and energy expenditure (4.7 vs. 5.2 W.kg-1) compared to controls, respectively. In a swim tank, oiled penguins tried to leave the water and showed erratic swimming behaviour. Their swimming speed was lower than that of controls (1.6 as opposed to 1.8 m.s-1) and they had an increased heart rate at the surface (321 vs. 252 bpm). Metabolic rate while swimming was 50% higher in oiled birds than in controls (18.8 vs. 12.7 W.kg-1), and cost of transport was 73% higher (12.1 vs. 7 J.kg-1 m-1).