Abstract
Adelie penguin Pygoscelis adeliae colonies were exposed to two forms of human activity currently occurring in Antarctica: nest checking for scientific purposes and recreational visits (disturbance treatments). Hatching success and chick survival at these colonies were compared to that at an undisturbed (control) colony. Six colonies were used -- three larger (mean of 70 nests) and three smaller (mean of 44 nests). Treatments (nest checking, recreational visits and control) were each replicated at one colony of each size. For both larger and smaller colonies, hatching success and chick survival were highest at control colonies and lowest at colonies subjected to recreational visits. These differences were statistically significant between smaller colonies where hatching success was 35% lower in the colony subjected to nest checking (compared to the control colony) and 47% lower in the colony subjected to recreational visits. For chick survival these reductions were 72% and 80% respectively. No significant difference was found in breeding success (hatching success or chick survival) between the two disturbance treatments (nest checking and recreational visits) in either size class. Disturbance treatment and colony size both influenced hatching success and chick survival significantly, but there was no statistical interaction between these parameters. Penguins bred either in the centre of a colony or at its periphery had no significant influence upon their breeding success.

Author Keywords: breeding success; scientific disturbance; recreational disturbance; adelie penguins; experimental designs

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