Though freezing temperatures and gale force winds make Antarctica one of the planet\u2019s harshest environments, an increasing number of people are visiting the continent each year \u2014 a trend that could negatively impact some penguin species and their habitats.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur findings suggest that some visitor guidelines might need to be more conservative during the early stages of the breeding season,\u201d said co-author Yu-Fai Leung<\/a>, a professor of parks, recreation and tourism management at the College of Natural Resources. <\/p>\n
Tourism in Antarctica is self-regulated by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)<\/a>, which was founded in 1991 to \u201cadvocate and promote the practice of safe and environmentally-responsible private sector travel\u201d to Antarctica. <\/p>\n
In an effort to protect Antarctica\u2019s wildlife and natural resources, IAATO requires tourists to adhere to strict guidelines<\/a> throughout the duration of their expeditions. For example, tourists must maintain a minimum distance of 15 feet from nesting penguins. <\/p>\n
Upon reviewing their data, the researchers found that chinstrap penguins demonstrated higher levels of anxiousness and defensiveness in response to passive and active behaviors, though both species demonstrated some level of distress to active behaviors at distances of 6.5 feet and 15 feet. <\/p>\n
\u201cChinstrap penguins can become defensive rather quickly when humans approach their nesting sites, at least more so than gentoo penguins,\u201d Leung said. \u201cBut really, both species are sensitive to some level of human presence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The findings come at a time when Antarctica\u2019s tourism industry is booming. During the 2019-20 tourism season, the continent received 75,000 visitors. IAATO expects that figure to exceed 100,000 in the 2022-23 season. <\/p>\n
Simultaneously, some of Antarctica\u2019s chinstrap penguin colonies have declined by up to 77% since 1971<\/a>, with the total population on Elephant Island dropping from 122,550 breeding pairs to 52,786 in January 2020, largely due to climate change. <\/p>\n
As new visitor sites are likely to open across Antarctica amid increasing demand, it\u2019s crucial for IAATO to continue evaluating the effectiveness of its visitor guidelines to safeguard the continent\u2019s penguins, according to Leung. <\/p>\n
\u201cIAATO has to balance tourism demand with conservation needs. I think they want to do the right thing. Their goal is to conduct safe, sustainable tourism in the Antarctic. It\u2019s just a matter of managing those two priorities,\u201d Leung said. <\/p>\n
Leung added that the expansion of the minimum viewing distance between tourists and nesting sites could alleviate potential impacts on chinstrap and gentoo penguins during the early stages of the breeding season, though further research is needed. <\/p>\n
\u201cBarrientos Island has been heavily visited by tourists since 2005 so the penguins could be adapted to people already,\u201d Leung said. \u201cOur results might be conservative.\u201d <\/p>\n
Currently, Leung and his collaborators are using remote cameras and field observations on Barrientos Island to monitor whether tourists comply with the minimum viewing distance of 15 feet. The study has resumed after interruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic and will entail further data collection during the next Antarctic tourism season. <\/p>\n
Leung, Cajiao and other researchers from around the world also recently formed the Antarctic Tourism Action Group<\/a> under the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, which serves as a platform for researchers from different disciplinary perspectives to work together collaboratively and make science-based recommendations. <\/p>\n
This post was originally published<\/a> in College of Natural Resources News.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false,"raw":"
\u201cOur findings suggest that some visitor guidelines might need to be more conservative during the early stages of the breeding season,\u201d said co-author Yu-Fai Leung<\/a>, a professor of parks, recreation and tourism management at the College of Natural Resources. <\/p>\n\n
Tourism in Antarctica is self-regulated by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)<\/a>, which was founded in 1991 to \u201cadvocate and promote the practice of safe and environmentally-responsible private sector travel\u201d to Antarctica. <\/p>\n\n
In an effort to protect Antarctica\u2019s wildlife and natural resources, IAATO requires tourists to adhere to strict guidelines<\/a> throughout the duration of their expeditions. For example, tourists must maintain a minimum distance of 15 feet from nesting penguins. <\/p>\n\n
Upon reviewing their data, the researchers found that chinstrap penguins demonstrated higher levels of anxiousness and defensiveness in response to passive and active behaviors, though both species demonstrated some level of distress to active behaviors at distances of 6.5 feet and 15 feet. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cChinstrap penguins can become defensive rather quickly when humans approach their nesting sites, at least more so than gentoo penguins,\u201d Leung said. \u201cBut really, both species are sensitive to some level of human presence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
The findings come at a time when Antarctica\u2019s tourism industry is booming. During the 2019-20 tourism season, the continent received 75,000 visitors. IAATO expects that figure to exceed 100,000 in the 2022-23 season. <\/p>\n\n
Simultaneously, some of Antarctica\u2019s chinstrap penguin colonies have declined by up to 77% since 1971<\/a>, with the total population on Elephant Island dropping from 122,550 breeding pairs to 52,786 in January 2020, largely due to climate change. <\/p>\n\n
As new visitor sites are likely to open across Antarctica amid increasing demand, it\u2019s crucial for IAATO to continue evaluating the effectiveness of its visitor guidelines to safeguard the continent\u2019s penguins, according to Leung. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cIAATO has to balance tourism demand with conservation needs. I think they want to do the right thing. Their goal is to conduct safe, sustainable tourism in the Antarctic. It\u2019s just a matter of managing those two priorities,\u201d Leung said. <\/p>\n\n
Leung added that the expansion of the minimum viewing distance between tourists and nesting sites could alleviate potential impacts on chinstrap and gentoo penguins during the early stages of the breeding season, though further research is needed. <\/p>\n\n
\u201cBarrientos Island has been heavily visited by tourists since 2005 so the penguins could be adapted to people already,\u201d Leung said. \u201cOur results might be conservative.\u201d <\/p>\n\n
Currently, Leung and his collaborators are using remote cameras and field observations on Barrientos Island to monitor whether tourists comply with the minimum viewing distance of 15 feet. The study has resumed after interruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic and will entail further data collection during the next Antarctic tourism season. <\/p>\n\n
Leung, Cajiao and other researchers from around the world also recently formed the Antarctic Tourism Action Group<\/a> under the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, which serves as a platform for researchers from different disciplinary perspectives to work together collaboratively and make science-based recommendations. <\/p>\n\n