Seasonal variation in the physiological and behavioral responses to tourist visitation in Magellanic penguins

Magellanic penguins exhibit heightened sensitivity to human disturbance during the incubation stage, allowing closer approaches but reacting more swiftly compared to other seasonal phases. The study found that while baseline corticosterone levels remained consistent throughout the breeding season, stress-induced corticosterone was lowest during molt, suggesting that this phase may also be a vulnerable period. Behavioral responses varied significantly with both the stage of the breeding cycle and proximity to tourists, with penguins in tourist-visited areas showing greater tolerance to human presence than those in non-visited zones. These findings indicate that corticosterone release is more closely tied to survival in extreme environments rather than behavioral regulation, underscoring the need for cautious conservation practices during critical stages like incubation and molt.

Villanueva, C., Walker, B. G., & Bertellotti, M. (2014). Seasonal variation in the physiological and behavioral responses to tourist visitation in Magellanic penguins. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 78(8), 1466–1476. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.791