Aerial photography of Ross Island Adelie penguin colonies.
Adélie penguin colonies in the Ross Sea region are surveyed using high resolution aerial photographs. This annual census has been carried out since the early 1980s. The aim is to relate annual changes in numbers of penguins breeding to weather, sea ice and other climate parameters in order to distinguish between natural and human-induced changes. Penguin abundance provides an indication of the health of the ecosystem.
