Penguin and Cormorant Monitoring

Penguin and Cormorant Monitoring

The Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is endemic to the Galapagos archipelago. It nests on the coast of Fernandina, Isabela, Bartolome, Floreana and the islet Lougie and feeds on fish in coastal waters, generally at depths no greater than 15m. The Flightless Cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi) is also endemic. It forms small colonies distributed along the coasts of Fernandina and Isabela and feeds on octopus and various species of fish.

In 2008 the BBC Wildlife Fund funded the annual survey to monitor the state of the four populations of Galapagos Penguin and Flightless Cormorant.  These essential censuses provide knowledge on the abundance, distribution, reproductive activity, survival and threats of the species, as well as meteorological data of the area of study and are crucial for the conservation management of the Archipelago.

Cormorants and census team

© Pete Oxford

Both these seabird species are currently categorised as 'threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Several factors are responsible for this status. The El Nino phenomenon has an impact in the reproductive capacity and population dynamics of both these species and flooding of their nests and even volcanic eruptions can also have an effect on the population.  Other identified threats include introduced predators, such as dogs, cats and rats, which feed on their chicks and eggs. Unauthorised net fishing and oil and fuel spills have also contributed to a decline in the population numbers of both species in the past couple of years.

Gustavo Jiménez-Uzcátegui

weighing a Galapagos Penguin

during census © CDF

In 2008, one of the causative agents of malaria, Plasmodium spp. was found to be present in the blood stream of several individuals of these species at sites on Fernandina and Isabela. This is particularly worrying, as this potentially poses an important threat, not only to these two bird species, but also to many other Galapagos endemic birds, as Plasmodium reticulum was the main cause of the extinction of many bird species in the oceanic island Hawaii.

Currently the prevalence of the disease is being monitored in Penguins and there are ongoing studies to determine which species of Plasmodium they are infected with.

The census was carried out in all study zones and sub-zones along the coasts of Floreana, Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, Bartolome, Sombrero Chino and Rabida islands. Using GPS a team from the Charles Darwin Foundation and Galapagos National Park recorded the number of individuals and their location. 

The census found counted 877 penguins, of which 669 (76%) were adults, 152 (17%) were juveniles, and 56 (7%) were undefined. Based on previous models an estimate of the entire Galapagos Penguin population was calculated to be 1,539 individuals, 233 fewer individuals than in 2007.

1,323 Flightless Cormorants were recorded, of which 1,241 (94%) were adults, 39 (3%) were juveniles, and 43 (3%) were undefined. An estimate of the total population was calculated to be 1,591 individuals, 336 less individuals than in 2007.

Map of Penguin and Comorant census © CDF

Due to the small population size of each of these species, which are both found nowhere else on Earth, this annual census is vital to maximising their chances of survival.  It is also important that the survey is as comprehensive as possible and conducted at the same time each year.

GCT is working to secure £20,000 in funding to ensure that this important work can take place again in September this year. 

To make a donation towards this project please click here.  Should you be interested in this project and in supporting the whole survey for 2010, please telephone the office for more information (020 7629 5049).