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DISTRIBUTION & POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS
Spheniscus mendiculusis is an endemic species to the Galapagos archipelago (Ecuador). The Galapagos penguin breeds on lsabela, Fernandina, Floreana and Santiago islands. About 95% of the Galapagos penguin's population lives in Isabela and Fernandina islands that is the West part of the Galapagos, but there is in Isabela island that the majority of the penguins live.
Most of the breeding occur in the 2 westernmost islands' coast , where 96% of the nests are located.
In 1983 the population of Galapagos penguins was unknown, but it could have been around 700 individuals; however, in 1971 in was as high of 10,000 penguins. The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events in 1971-1972,1982-1983 and 1997-1998 wiped out half of the penguin population.
ENDANGERED
"Galapagos Penguin Spheniscus mendiculus has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2020. Spheniscus mendiculus is listed as Endangered under criteria:A2abce; B2ab(iii,v); C2a(ii)."
"A2abce-A. Reduction in population size based on any of the following:
An observed, estimated, inferred or suspected population size reduction of ³50% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, where the reduction or its causes may not have ceased OR may not be
understood OR may not be reversible, based on (and specifying) any of (a)to (e) under A1. (a) direct observation
(b) an index of abundance appropriate to the taxon.(c) a decline in area of occupancy, extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat.(e) the effects of introduced taxa, hybridization, pathogens, pollutants,competitors or parasites.
B2ab(iii,v)- B. Geographic range in the form of either B1 (extent of occurrence) OR B2 (area of occupancy) OR both: 2. Area of occupancy estimated to be less than 500 km2, and estimates indicating at least two of a–c:
a. Severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than five locations. b. Continuing decline, observed, inferred or projected, in any of the following:(iii) area, extent and/or quality of habitat ,(v) number of mature individuals.
C2a(ii)- 2. A continuing decline, observed, projected, or inferred, in numbers of mature individuals AND at least one of the following (a–b): a. Population structure in the form of one of the following: (ii) at least 95% of mature individuals in one subpopulation."
CONSERVATION EFFORTS
The entire population of Galapagos penguins is protected within the Galapagos National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve which are managed by the Galapagos National Park Service. The conservation efforts to keep the Galapagos penguin alive are slow, but helpful, building nest sites with staked lava rocks that provide shade to the nest is a way to provide better breeding chances to the penguins, and an excellent conservation tactic. Galapagos penguins like to come back to their old nest sites, but these sites may no longer exist because the marine iguanas may overtook them. In order to breed Galapagos penguins need a lot of food, so, in order to ensure that the penguins get the best breeding conditions the Galapagos Conservancy provides abundant food, and best quality nest sites, so the eggs are safe and protected from the sun, and other dangers, then the researchers will monitor the population two or three times per year in order to check the status of the population. The Center of Ecosystem Sentinels has a Galapagos penguin project in order to determine the health and size of the population, so twice a year they evaluate the penguins by weighting them and evaluating their body condition Any conservation effort is crucial for the survival of the species, so the conservation measures must continue to avoid the risk of the species to be extinct.
IUCN PROTECTIONS
IUCN PROTECTIONS
The Galapagos National Park Service GNPS have been encouraging research projects with the purpose to protect the species by determining its marine needs enforcing scientific research, and management of the species.
Introduced predators are to be controlled by The GNPS is in control of the introduced predators that have been eradicated in few islands successfully
In order to provide high -quality habitat for for penguins to breed, artificial nests were built in 2010, and penguins are using them. In February of 2016 the Equatorian president recommended that no-fishing zones are to be established within at the three sites where penguins breed (Elizabeth Bay, Bartolomé and Sombrero Chino islands and Caleta Iguana). Moreover, The Galapagos Conservancy, together with the National Park, has developed an educational program for children in the islands.
Conservation Actions Proposed
An urgent need for a Long- term monitoring of the penguin population
The Galapagos Marine Reserve should increase protection in areas where the penguins live.
Penguins' mortality must be monitor in breeding sites in order to diminish penguin mortality from foreign species
The amount of penguins must be count at least twice a years and the the breeding sites must be continue monitor
The creation of strong tools will help to determine population trends, recruitment, health and molting success.
Continue the supply of constructed nests in predator-free areas and monitor the reproduction success
Artificial islands can be build and this may help the grow of the penguin's population
Fisheries must improve their management, so more food can be available for the penguins.
REASONS FOR DECLINE POPULATION
The Galapagos penguin population have been fluctuating mainly due to marine perturbations; El Niño events have caused the death of up to 77 percent of the Galapagos penguins because this event brought food decline for the penguins, and without food the penguins cannot breed, with dramatic declines of prey species and reduced breeding success, this have been happening for the last 30 years, so the biggest threat for the Galapagos penguins is the climate change for sure; however, any type of treat can contribute to the decline of the population of the Galapagos penguins like the introduction of foreign species to the Galapagos islands like dogs that can bring diseases and cats that can be predators. Other threats include: Pollution, overfishing, toxic algae blooms, and the introduction of non-native plants that disturb the breeding habitat. El Niño events' frequency increases when the climate change bringing warm water and consequently the food is scarce, so few penguins molt or breed, and many will starve; for the contrary. The cold waters of La Niña are rich in food, which can give in off energy to the penguins, so they can molt, breed and feed their young ones.
"The species declined by 60% between 1970 and 2004." due to the El Niño, so based on the frequency of the El Nino events previously recorded between 1965 to 2004 a population reduction of more than 80% will result in the next 100 years. Is documented that floating nets from fishing boats drowned Galapagos penguins; moreover contamination for oil spills present another threat for the life of the penguins. Avian Malaria vector the Culex quinquefasciatus arrived in the Galápagos islands in the 1980s, and Plasmodium parasite has been found in the blood of the penguins, this can kill the Galapagos penguin as well.
GALAPAGOS PENGUIN PRIORITY
If the penguins disappear the Balance of the Ecosystem and the Food Chain in the Galapagos islands will be permanently unbalanced; the Galapagos penguins have a double role in the food chain, they are predators and they are prey. Their feces enrich the soil and the sea because it has nutrients. Besides the climate and other threats to all species that are endangered in the Galapagos island, the Galapagos penguins have another threat the Plasmodium Parasite that can take the whole penguin population away from good.
The Galapagos penguins should be the priority species for the habitat protection program that IUCN is working at this time because the habitat of the Galapagos penguins are the coastal areas where many other species live, and this is where the Galapagos penguins make their nests, so protecting their habitat will guarantee some increase in the Galapagos penguins' population that is much needed; moreover, there is so much that we don't learn about the Galapagos penguin; they are incredible creatures that adapted themselves to a non natural environment changing their physical traits or adapting their organs to their convenience, and this can be extremely useful for the human species because we may need to adapt to a major change in our planet.
REFERENCES
What issues do Galapagos penguins face? Discovering Galapagos. (2017, October 2). Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://www.discoveringgalapagos.org.uk/discover/galapagos-projects/penguin-protectors/what-issues-do-galapagos-penguins-face/
GPS, A. G. B. para. (n.d.). Galápagos penguin - spheniscus mendiculus. Global Penguin Society. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://www.globalpenguinsociety.org/portfolio-species-17.html
International), B. L. I. (B. L. (2020, August 21). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697825/182729677
Search. Search | IUCN Library System. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://portals.iucn.org/library/
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/en
Galapagos Penguin (spheniscus mendiculus) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://www.fws.gov/species/galapagos-penguin-spheniscus-mendiculus
World Wildlife Fund. (n.d.). Galápagos penguin. WWF. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/galapagos-penguin
Galápagos penguin project. Center for Ecosystem Sentinels. (2017, November 30). Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://ecosystemsentinels.org/galapagos-penguin-project/
Keywords: La Niña, climate change, El Niño, foreign species, Isabela island, endemic, breeds, Ecuador
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