Analysis of blood samples for hormones circulating in the blood stream of adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) in relation to breeding behaviour

A method for recurrent blood sampling of individual birds was perfected before a close study of the behaviour of a number of banded breeding pairs of adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) was conducted to determine a clear understanding of the hormones circulating in the blood stream in relation to breeding behaviour throughout the entire reproductive cycle. Blood samples were taken from a series of pairs during incubation and chick rearing during nest relief when the two birds of the pair could be sampled. Samples were processed via chromatographic methods for Prolactin.