Journal Article

Applying science to pressing conservation needs for penguins

Schneider, T., Simeone, A., Trathan, P.N., Wienecke, B., Bost, C.A., Chiaradia, A., Ellis, S., Borboroglu, P. García, Waller, L.J., Seddon, P.J., Boersma, P.D., Gownaris, N.J.

2020

Overview

More than half of the world's 18 penguin species are declining. We, the Steering Committeeof the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission PenguinSpecialist Group, voted on the penguin species in most critical need of conservation action.Because of their small or rapidly declining populations, the top three species identified in thisprocess were the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), Galápagos penguin (Spheniscusmendiculus), and Yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes). To persist, these speciesrequire immediate scientific collaboration and policy intervention. In addition to highlightingthe three priority species, we used a pairwise ranking approach to prioritize research andconservation needs for all penguins. Among the 12 cross-taxa research areas we identified,we ranked quantifying population trends, estimating demographic rates, forecastingenvironmental patterns of change, and improving knowledge of fisheries interactions as thehighest priorities. The highest ranked conservation needs were to enhance marine spatialplanning, improve stakeholder engagement, and develop disaster management and speciesspecificaction plans. As part of our discussions, we identified four avenues for improvingtranslation of science into effective conservation for penguins. First, the scientific communityand funding bodies must recognize the importance of and support long-term research.Second, research on and conservation of penguins must expand its focus to include the nonbreedingseason and the juvenile stage. Third, marine reserves must be designed atecologically appropriate spatial and temporal scales. Lastly, communication betweenscientists and decision makers must be improved with the help of individual scientists,interdisciplinary species-specific working groups, and international working groups.

• Publisher: Wiley,HAL CCSD,Blackwell Publishing Ltd,John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subject: Antipodes / cambio climático / centinelas de ecosistemas / clasificación por pares / climate change / Communication / comunicación científica / Conservation / Demographics / disaster preparedness / ecosystem sentinels / Environmental planning / Environmental Sciences / Essay / Fisheries / hábitat no reproductor / issues and policy / knowledge gaps / Marinas / Marine parks / Marine protected areas / Marine resources / marine spatial planning / Megadyptes antipodes / Nature conservation / nonbreeding habitat / pairwise ranking / penguins / planificación marina espacial / planning / Population decline / population dynamics / science communication / Scientists / Seabirds / Spatial planning / Species / Spheniscus demersus / Spheniscus mendiculus / stakeholders / Survival / vacíos de conocimiento / Wildlife conservation