Ecosystem Functioning

Stress and disease in Adélie and Emperor penguins

Principal Investigator: John Cockrem
Organisation: Massey University

What we do: Our research programme examines stress in Antarctic penguins. Our goals are to:
1) Provide data on responses of penguins to people in order to assist with the management of tourist visits to penguin rookeries;
2) Understand how penguins respond to environmental stimuli that can initiate stress responses;
3) Understand how corticosterone, the avian stress hormone, affects the penguins; and
4) Determine whether penguins and skuas have been exposed to human and avian diseases as a consequence of contact with people.
We will also investigate stress responses in relation to breeding success in Adelie penguins. 

Why we do it: Adelie and Emperor penguins are the most widely distributed Antarctic penguins. South polar skuas are also widespread and, in contrast to the penguins, skuas are attracted to sites of human activities in Antarctica. The work will address fundamental questions about the responses of Antarctic birds to environmental stimuli, and provide novel information about responses to people and the incidence of disease in Antarctic birds exposed to difference levels of human contact.

Recent Publications
Cockrem, J.F. Conservation and behavioral neuroendocrinology. Hormones and behavior 48: 492-501. 2005.