Adélie Penguin Research
Adélie colony at Cape Bird South, Ross Island, Antarctica
Scientists have been studying Adélie penguins (Pygoscelie adeliae) for over 50 years. Antarctica is one of the last places in the world where animals can be studied in a habitat still largely unmodified by man. It is thought that data on changes to penguin populations may reflect the impacts that humans and natural factors, like climate change, may be having on the marine ecosystem.
Landcare Research, in collaboration with a US research team, has been studying Adélie penguins in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica.
The Ross Sea is one of the most biologically productive regions of the Southern Ocean.
More than 38% of all Adélies (5 million penguins in 38 colonies) are found here, even though this region has less than 10% of the total Antarctic coastline.