The southern rockhopper penguin group (Eudyptes chrysocome), is a species of rockhopper penguin, that is sometimes considered distinct from the northern rockhopper penguin. It occurs in subantarctic waters of the western Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as around the southern coasts of South America. This is the smallest yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin in the genus Eudyptes. It reaches a length of 45–58 cm (18–23 in) and typically weighs 2–3.4 kg (4.4–7.5 lb), although there are records of exceptionally large rockhoppers weighing 4.5 kg (9.9 lb). It has slate-grey upper parts and has straight, bright yellow eyebrows ending in long yellowish plumes projecting sideways behind a red eye.
Rockhopper Penguin |
Eudyptes chrysocome
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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IUCN Red List Assessment, Eudyptes chrysocome
Systems Marine Threats (see Appendix for additional information) Climate change appears to be a significant factor in driving declines.
Wind patterns are also subject to change under global warming scenarios and have been shown to affect the foraging success of rockhopper penguins the currently dominating southerly and westerly winds increased foraging success while foraging success was lower under northerly and easterly wind directions; which may become more frequent in the future (Dehnhard et al. 2013b).
Besides these apparent bottom up effects; climate change may also lead to top down changes in food web structure; causing increased inter specific competition and secondary predation; e.g. competition and predation by the rapidly increasing pinniped (fur seal and sea lion) populations (Barlow et al. 2002; Raya Rey et al. 2012; Morrison et al. 2017).
In particular increase awareness of the effects of climate change and what the public could do to mediate these effects.
Limited individual phenotypic plasticity in the timing of and investment into egg laying in Southern Rockhopper Penguins under climate change.