Habituation of Adult Magellanic Penguins to Human Visitation as Expressed through Behavior and Corticosterone Secretion
Abstract
Ecotourism is increasing worldwide; hence, it is important to know how wildlife are affected behaviorally and physiologically by human visitation. We studied the effects of human visitation on the Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at Punta Tombo, Argentina, by monitoring changes in defensive head turns and plasma corticosterone (a hormone secreted in response to stress) for penguins with and without a history of tourist visitation. Habituation to human visitation was rapid. In penguins with no previous exposure to tourists, the number of defensive head turns and level of plasma corticosterone decreased significantly within 5 days of one 15-minute visit/day. Penguins living in tourist-visited and undisturbed areas secreted more corticosterone when captured and restrained than penguins visited by a person. Penguins in tourist areas, however did not show as strong a corticosterone response to capture and restraint as did penguins in areas without tourists. This difference was due to a decreased capability of the adrenocortical tissue to secrete corticosterone in tourist-visited birds. Although our data show no direct negative effects of tourism on Magellanic Penguins at Punta Tombo, consequences of a modification of physiological capabilities (e.g., adrenocortical function) may not become apparent until much later in life. The physiological differences between tourist-visited and undisturbed groups of Magellanic Penguins emphasize the importance of monitoring the eff…
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Both Magellanic and African penguins have been shown to desensitize similarly to human presence in the wild.
“However, given that both Magellanic and African penguins have been shown to desensitize similarly to human presence in the wild [41,42], additional factors may contribute to the different responses to ambassador programs reported here and by Hartell-DeNardo [13].”
From Evaluating the Behavior and Temperament of African Penguins in a Non-Contact Animal Encounter Program (2019) · cites this paper as [42]
Cites
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Feast and Famine: Critical Role of Glucocorticoids with Insulin in Daily Energy Flow
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“Low levels of corticosterone are necessary to maintain homeostatic energetic balance (Dallman et al. 1993), but chronically elevated corticosterone concentration can be detrimental, causing muscle wasting, impaired immune function, and reduced growth ( Johnson et al. 1992; Wingfield et al. 1995).”
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Boersma, P. D. (2008) · BioScience · doi:10.1641/b580707 · Cited by 333 · see citing works
Self-citationThe visitor effect on zoo animals: implications and opportunities for zoo animal welfare
Sherwen, S. L., & Hemsworth, P. H. (2019) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani9060366 · Cited by 267 · see citing works
“This has been reported in several wild populations of various species including Magellanic penguins [102], Gunther’s dik-diks [103], gorillas [104] and brown bears [105].”
BackgroundWALKER, B. G., BOERSMA, P. D., & WINGFIELD, J. C. (2005) · Conservation Biology · doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00104.x · Cited by 163 · see citing works
Self-citationSherwen, S. L., Magrath, M. J. L., Butler, K. L., & Hemsworth, P. H. (2015) · Applied Animal Behaviour Science · doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2015.04.007 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
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African Penguin tolerance to humans depends on historical exposure at colony level
PICHEGRU, L., EDWARDS, T. B., DILLEY, B. J., FLOWER, T. P., & RYAN, P. G. (2016) · Bird Conservation International · doi:10.1017/s0959270915000313 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
- Authors
- WALKER, B. G., DEE BOERSMA, P., & WINGFIELD, J. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Washington (US)
- Corresponding author
- WALKER, BRIAN G.
- Venue
- Conservation Biology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006-01-09
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 146-154
- ISSN
- 0888-8892 (ISSN-L)
- 1523-1739
- OpenAlex
- W2159128398
- Cited by
- 255
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 21.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Conservation Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DigitalCommons - Fairfield (Fairfield University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Wildlife Conservation Society
- American Ornithologists' Union
- University of Washington
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Avian ecology and behavior
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Keywords
- Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus, human visitation, habituation, ecotourism, plasma corticosterone, stress physiology, adrenocortical function, defensive behavior, head turning, human disturbance, wildlife disturbance
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animals, Wild, Argentina, Behavior, Animal, Bird Diseases, Corticosterone, Habituation, Psychophysiologic, Humans, Stress, Physiological, Time Factors, Spheniscidae
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