Form C, Question 3
The objectives and purposes of this proposed project are to:
1. Investigate the annual cycle of the Little Penguins on Garden Island
2. Obtain data on the diet of the penguins on Garden Island and the areas they use for foraging
and travelling;
3. Gain an understanding of the threats the penguins on Garden Island are exposed to, and the
likelihood of the impact of these threats;
4. Improve our predictions for the likelihood of the Little Penguin colony to survive impacts
associated with climate change and coastal use;
5. Understand the health of the coastal marine habitat using penguins as bioindicators;
6. Learn about the habitats the penguins use in years of poor and good fish availability;
7. Provide supplementary advice and information to Department of Defence to help their management
of the colony; and
8. Contribute to conservation strategies for Little Penguins in collaboration with other
agencies.
Methods
Monitoring of adult penguins and offspring
It is necessary to identify individual penguins using subcutaneous microchips, similar to those used
on pet cats and dogs. The microchips have successfully been used on little penguins throughout
Australia and New Zealand. Adult little penguins using nestboxes on Garden Island will be
microchipped, as will the fledglings once they attain a specific age and mass. The microchips are
inserted between the scapulae. Once a microchip has been inserted, the id of the chip is read using a
portable reader. The beaks of the penguins are also measured using vernier calipers, to determine
gender.
The colony will be visited every 4 weeks, during which the penguins using nestboxes on the island
will be weighed and scanned for their id. Eggs will be noted and chicks will be weighed. To weigh the
adults and chicks, they are placed in a calico bag and suspended from a spring balance.
Determination of diet
The penguin diet is determined by analyzing the DNA in their faeces. The faecal samples will be
obtained from both adults and chicks. The penguins often defecate on handling, but if this should
not occur during the routine handling, the adult penguins and older chicks will be placed in a pet
pack next to their nestbox. Young chicks will be placed in a bucket on a warm hot-water bottle. The
penguins will remain in the pet pack or bucket for15 minutes at most. The DNA is isolated and
amplified from the faeces using a technique called PCR (polymerase chain reaction) which is able to
‘photocopy’ DNA into sufficient quantities. High-throughput sequencing is then used, where generic
‘barcoded’ PCR primers are used that amplify the 16S rRNA gene of all fish. Because each of the fish
in any given sample has a unique ‘tag’ the amplified DNA iss sequenced simultaneously on a high
throughput sequencer. A single sequencing run will generate ~50,000 reads. The data are then
sorted into tags and analysed for species presence and abundance.
Determination of marine habitat used
Small satellite or GPS tags will be attached to breeding adult penguins using waterproof tape. The
penguins are securely held in a padded adjustable cuff and the tag is attached to the exposed
feathers on their back. The tags are attached for a single foraging shift, usually 3-5 days for birds
incubating eggs, and 1-2 days for those rearing chicks. Upon their return, the birds are again placed
in the cuff, and the tape and tag are removed.
Causes of mortality
Any dead penguins found either on Garden Island or within Cockburn Sound and its foreshores will
be necropsied at Murdoch University to determine cause of death. Such information will be used in
the investigation on the impact of potential threats
Form C 6A: Investigating the breeding behaviour and foraging ecology of Little Penguins on Garden
Island, Western Australia
The Little Penguin colony on Garden Island lies approximately 10km north of the largest Western
Australian colony, located at Penguin Island. Given their close proximity, and thus increased chance
of mixing between the colonies, they can be regarded as one “metapopulation”. This
metapopulation of Little Penguins is the most northern in W.A. In addition, there are no Little
Penguin colonies further west in the world. The colony on Penguin Island has been studied for more
than 20 years, and hence we have a good understanding of the annual variation in a number of
physical and breeding variables such as body condition of adults and young, timing of egg lay,
breeding success, and number of clutches laid by each pair of penguins. As the penguins feed at sea,
but nest on land, then this accumulated data makes them ideal bioindicators of change within both
the marine and terrestrial environment
The Little Penguin colony on Garden Island abuts Cockburn Sound, the busiest embayment in
Western Australia. Eight major industries are sited on its east coast, five commercial fishing
operations occur within the embayment, and the Department of Defence is situated on the island.
Cockburn Sound is also very popular for recreational water-based activities. The Cockburn Sound
Management Council predict recreational fishing to increase by 30% in the next 10 years.
Commercial shipping is predicted to increase by 5% each year, and two new Port areas are proposed
for Cockburn Sound. Recreational boat ownership is predicted to increase by at least 40% in the local
area (Department of Planning and Infrastructure 2007), To keep up with this increased boating, the
Mangles Bay Tourist Precinct, accommodating approx 500 boats, and incorporating tourist facilities,
a commercial area, accommodation and residential area is proposed for Mangles Bay in the southwestern area of Cockburn Sound. This area is an important nursery habitat for many fish species,
including those preyed upon by Little Penguins, and is a likely foraging area for the Garden Island
colony.
The major potential threats to Little Penguins in the Perth metropolitan are:
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reduction in food resources from commercial and recreational fishing; and destruction of fish
habitat from various sources including coastal developments, pollutants and poor water quality.
entanglements in fishing nets, fishing line and plastic pollution;
human disturbance at their nesting sites;
increased watercraft activity in the same areas the penguins travel and forage causing increased
incidence of injury and death from boat strikes
oil spills; and
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chemical contaminants, including heavy metals particularly Tributyltin (TBT), an active ingredient
in antifouling paints used on large vessels. It is extremely toxic to marine life and in birds it has
been found to reduce fertility and hatching success in birds.
The project aims to:
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Investigate the annual cycle and breeding success of the penguins by checking the presence of
adults, eggs and chicks in each burrow in the main colony every 4 weeks, and noting if the
penguins are undergoing their annual moult.
Obtain data on the diet of the penguins on Garden Island by analyzing the DNA in their faeces
Determine the areas they use for foraging and travelling by attaching satellite or GPS tags to
breeding adults;
Using these data, as well as any necropsy reports from dead penguins, to gain an understanding
of the likelihood of the impact of the above mentioned threats to the penguins on Garden
Island;
Improve our predictions for the likelihood of the Little Penguin colony to survive impacts
associated with climate change and coastal use;
Understand the health of the coastal marine habitat using penguins as bioindicators;
Learn about the habitats the penguins use in years of poor and good fish availability; and
Contribute to conservation strategies for Little Penguins in collaboration with other agencies.
6B: Names of researchers and supporting institutions
Reseacher:
Dr Belinda Cannell
Supporting Institution:
University of Western Australia; and
Department of Defence: Garden Island is Commonwealth land, managed by the Department of Defence.
The works are supported by the Department of Defence who permit access to the base to allow monitoring to
occur. The Senior Environment Manager for WA, Jarrad Scott, can be contacted on 0407 804 824 to provide
any additional information.
6C: Relationship of researcher to permit applicant
Dr Cannell (researcher) is the permit applicant. Funding is not currently available for this project, but
funding applications will be developed across 2013.