Work

Physiological toolkit to assess the health impacts on a Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus colony located in a high-use touristic region of Patagonia, Argentina

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: We evaluated the health status of Magellanic Penguins Spheniscus magellanicus inhabiting a region on the Valdes Peninsula (Patagonia, Argentina) that is subject to extensive tourism. We compared individuals nesting along tour trails with others inhabiting non-touristic zones. Hematocrits, blood cell counts, glucose, cholesterol, total proteins, and heterophil/lymphocyte were considered as stress indices. Most parameters were not affected by tourism. Adults and chicks tested positive for bacterial pathogens in both the touristic and control areas. These data complemented a long-term database of systematic physiological monitoring on penguins and will be useful tools for future comparative analyses.

Source: Marine ornithology

DOI: 10.5038/2074-1235.47.2.1325

Authors: V. L. D'Amico, M. Bertellotti

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Award: INDICADORES DE ESTRÉS OXIDATIVO EN PINGUINOS DE MAGALLANES AFECTADOS POR EL TURISMO