Stable Isotope Analyses of Pygoscelid Penguin remains from Active and Abandoned Colonies in Antarctica

南极洲活跃和废弃殖民地的尾企鹅遗骸的稳定同位素分析

• 批准号: 0739575
• 负责人: Steven Emslie
• 金额: $ 50.32万
• 依托单位: University of North Carolina at Wilmington
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0739575&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Stable; Isotope; Analyses; Pygoscelid; Penguin

The research combines interdisciplinary study in geology, paleontology, and biology, using stable isotope and radiocarbon analyses, to examine how climate change and resource utilization have influenced population distribution, movement, and diet in penguins during the mid-to-late Holocene. Previous investigations have demonstrated that abandoned colonies contain well-preserved remains that can be used to examine differential responses of penguins to climate change in various sectors of Antarctica. As such, the research team will investigate abandoned and active pygoscelid penguin (Adelie, Chinstrap, and Gentoo) colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula and Ross Sea regions, and possibly Prydz Bay, in collaboration with Chinese scientists during four field seasons. Stable isotope analyses will be conducted on recovered penguin tissues and prey remains in guano to address hypotheses on penguin occupation history, population movement, and diet in relation to climate change since the late Pleistocene. The study will include one Ph.D., two Masters and 16 undergraduate students in advanced research over the project period. Students will be exposed to a variety of fields, the scientific method, and international scientific research. They will complete field and lab research for individual projects or Honor's theses for academic credit. The project also will include web-based outreach, lectures to middle school students, and the development of interactive exercises that highlight hypothesis-driven research and the ecology of Antarctica. Two undergraduate students in French and Spanish languages at UNCW will be hired to assist in translating the Web page postings for broader access to this information.

该研究结合了地质学、古生物学和生物学的跨学科研究，利用稳定同位素和放射性碳分析，研究气候变化和资源利用如何影响全新世中晚期企鹅的种群分布、运动和饮食。 先前的调查表明，废弃的栖息地包含保存完好的遗骸，可用于研究南极洲各个地区企鹅对气候变化的差异反应。 因此，研究小组将与中国科学家合作，在四个野外季节中调查南极半岛和罗斯海地区以及可能普里兹湾的废弃和活跃的尾企鹅（阿德利企鹅、帽带企鹅和巴布亚企鹅）栖息地。 将对回收的企鹅组织和鸟粪中的猎物遗骸进行稳定同位素分析，以解决更新世晚期以来与气候变化有关的企鹅占领历史、人口流动和饮食的假设。该研究将包括一名博士生、两名硕士生和 16 名本科生在项目期间进行高级研究。学生将接触到各个领域、科学方法和国际科学研究。 他们将完成个人项目的现场和实验室研究或荣誉论文以获得学分。该项目还将包括基于网络的推广、针对中学生的讲座以及开发强调假设驱动的研究和南极洲生态的互动练习。 UNCW 的两名法语和西班牙语本科生将受聘协助翻译网页帖子，以便更广泛地获取此信息。