CCAMLR's Ecosystem Monitoring Program
The CCAMLR
Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP) aims to:
(1) detect and record significant changes in critical components of the Antarctic marine ecosystem, to serve as a basis for the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources; and
(2) distinguish between changes due to harvesting of commercial species and changes due to environmental variability, both physical and biological.
CEMP’s major function is to monitor the key life-history parameters of selected dependent species (‘indicator species’), which are dependent on krill (Euphausia superba) and are likely to respond to changes in the availability of krill (harvested species). CCAMLR has developed CEMP Standard Methods and established sampling sites where these methods are carried out. The CEMP Standard Methods include data collection methods and procedures for data analysis aimed at yielding standardized information for comparisons across species and sites.
Among the indicator species selected for monitoring are the Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins that breed in mixed colonies at our research site (aka Copa) in Admiralty Bay [62o10'S 58o30'W], King George Island (South Shetland Islands), Antarctica. Specifically, we have collected long-term seabird monitoring data at Copa on the following CEMP parameters:
A2 Incubation Shift Durations -Adélie penguins
A3 Population Size - Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins
A5 Foraging trip durations, chick phase - Adélie penguins
A6 Breeding success - Adélie, gentoo & chinstrap penguins
A7 Fledging weights - Adélie and chinstrap penguins
A8 Diets - food load size and composition - Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins
The summarized data tables are submitted each year to CCAMLR and are also provided below. This research was conducted as part of NOAA's Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) Program. It was supported by NOAA and by grants from the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs. Further support and assistance was provided by the Lenfest Ocean Program of the Pew Charitable Trust and the Oceanites Foundation. Any use of the data files provided herein should appropriately acknowledge the aforementioned sponsors of this research. In addition, while every effort is made to keep these data files accurate and up to date, the accuracy of some information is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Data provided on this webpage are derived from data bases which are continuously being updated, modified and assessed for quality assurance/quality control issues. For these reasons, we request that all users contact the Principal Investigator, Dr. Wayne Trivelpiece, before using any data from this webpage. Quality Information Guidelines are available on the NOAA website.