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'Monty and Mabel' Adélie penguins monitored at Christmas | 'Monty and Mabel' Adélie penguins monitored at Christmas |
(about 2 months later) | |
A Cambridge-based scientist is spending her Christmas monitoring real-life "Monty and Mabel" penguins - a species now well-known after featuring in a UK store's festive television advert. | A Cambridge-based scientist is spending her Christmas monitoring real-life "Monty and Mabel" penguins - a species now well-known after featuring in a UK store's festive television advert. |
Stacey Adlard, who works for the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, is spending five months monitoring Adélie penguins in the Antarctic. | Stacey Adlard, who works for the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, is spending five months monitoring Adélie penguins in the Antarctic. |
The zoological field assistant hopes to discover why the species is thriving in some areas but in decline in others. | The zoological field assistant hopes to discover why the species is thriving in some areas but in decline in others. |
She is currently based on Signy Island. | She is currently based on Signy Island. |
Signy, in the South Orkney Islands, lies on a latitude of approximately 60°S. It is in the southern hemisphere where temperatures - in what is now midsummer - average between -4°C and +4°C. | Signy, in the South Orkney Islands, lies on a latitude of approximately 60°S. It is in the southern hemisphere where temperatures - in what is now midsummer - average between -4°C and +4°C. |
The Antarctic continent and surrounding islands are the main breeding grounds of the Adélie penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae. | The Antarctic continent and surrounding islands are the main breeding grounds of the Adélie penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae. |
Miss Adlard is part of a small team monitoring the success - or otherwise - of the current breeding season. | Miss Adlard is part of a small team monitoring the success - or otherwise - of the current breeding season. |
BAS research scientist Dr Phil Trathan, said there were about 3.79 million breeding pairs of Adélie on the continent. | BAS research scientist Dr Phil Trathan, said there were about 3.79 million breeding pairs of Adélie on the continent. |
Adélies - the future | |
"My role involves detailed monitoring of all species during their breeding cycle and includes counting, weighing, and identifying what they have been eating," said Miss Adlard. | "My role involves detailed monitoring of all species during their breeding cycle and includes counting, weighing, and identifying what they have been eating," said Miss Adlard. |
"By collecting the same data each year, we can then look at the long-term trends for each type of penguin to see how well they are doing as a population and if they are struggling, to try to determine why." | "By collecting the same data each year, we can then look at the long-term trends for each type of penguin to see how well they are doing as a population and if they are struggling, to try to determine why." |
Colleagues are "busy measuring the intensity of light reflected from penguin poo, as part of a project to try to identify and count penguins remotely using satellite photographs", she said. | Colleagues are "busy measuring the intensity of light reflected from penguin poo, as part of a project to try to identify and count penguins remotely using satellite photographs", she said. |
Work at the research station, which caters for eight staff, stops briefly on Christmas Day for a traditional turkey lunch. | Work at the research station, which caters for eight staff, stops briefly on Christmas Day for a traditional turkey lunch. |
All the food arrived with Miss Adlard on the BAS ship, the RRS James Clark Ross and has to last until the scientists return in April. | All the food arrived with Miss Adlard on the BAS ship, the RRS James Clark Ross and has to last until the scientists return in April. |
"There are only a few of us so we make the most of having our own Signy family Christmas," she said. | "There are only a few of us so we make the most of having our own Signy family Christmas," she said. |
"We have fairy lights and a Christmas tree and lots of snow and penguins, all of which help us to get into the festive mood. | "We have fairy lights and a Christmas tree and lots of snow and penguins, all of which help us to get into the festive mood. |
"Come Boxing Day, it's time to get back to work and go to see my penguins and wish them a merry Christmas." | "Come Boxing Day, it's time to get back to work and go to see my penguins and wish them a merry Christmas." |
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