BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 253          Total No. of Sites: 8
Survey/Project Name: Penguin Population Monitoring on Granite and West Islands
Abstract: A program to monitor the effect of human activities on the breeding success of Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) on Granite Island, South Australia, has been ongoing since 1990. Granite Island attracts over 700 000 visitors each year and is situated immediately adjacent to the township of Victor Harbor (population 10 000). Penguin breeding success has been compared among three zones: the high and moderate human impact zones located on Granite Island, and the low human impact zone located on nearby West Island. Although there are no consistent trends in breeding success among the three zones, there are consistent differences in breeding success between Granite Island and West Island. Chick survivorship and the number of successful clutches tend to be lower on Granite Island compared to West Island, even though a larger number of clutches are produced on Granite Island. In addition, three different measures indicate that the Granite Island penguin population has declined in recent years, although it is unclear whether this is part of a long-term trend. REFERENCES Natalie Gilbert; Paula J. Peeters and Raymond J. Carpenter (2002) Monitoring the effect of human activities on the breeding success of Little Penguins on Granite Island Gilbert (1995-2009) ENCOUNTER BAY PENGUIN BREEDING MONITORING PROGRAM See other reports by SARDI and Flinders University in the biodatastore.
 
Start Date: 01/01/1990      End Date: 01/01/2020
Survey Type: Fauna only
   
Study Area Description: Sites around Granite Island and West Island; Encounter Bay.
Objectives
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation survey objectives recorded
         Fauna: Initially undertaken to compare population numbers on Granite and West Islands. Measure breeding success by mapping occupied burrows, noting their repeated habitation and the presence of chicks. Survey north side and south of Granite Island as the impact site, and the north and south sides of West Island as the control site. West Island is control for tourist impacted area of Granite Island. Burrow occupation checked yearly, but population census done every six months.
Methodology
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation methodology recorded
         Fauna: Refers to data collection 1990-2001. Breeding Between 20 and 40 burrows were monitored in zones 1 & 2 in 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, and in zone 3 (West Island) in 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. Burrows were monitored every two weeks during the breeding season and the number of eggs, chicks and adults were measured. Pearson chi-square tests were used to test for differences in chick survivorship and clutch success between sites for each year. Population Penguins were counted by tour guides for one hour after dusk during nightly penguin tours on the northern shore of Granite Island from April 2000 to October 2002. FOGI conducted three whole-island surveys and one part-island survey of penguin numbers on Granite Island in 2001 and 2002. Data recorded Number of burrows used for breeding Number of clutches produced Number of burrows with chicks Number of eggs recorded Number of chicks recorded Number of chicks fledged

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Fauna : Monitoring - Fauna/Ecosystem (ie species records - usually re-visited for ongoing monitoring) NOTE:NON Std Svy methodology may have been used.
Information Authority: Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:Adelaide) - Victor Harbor Office
Department for Environment and Heritage - Coast and Marine Branch