Datasets supporting: Coastal regions of the northern Antarctic Peninsula are key for gentoo populations

Southern Ocean ecosystems are rapidly changing due to climate variability.
An apparent beneficiary of such change in the western Antarctic Peninsula
(WAP) is the gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua, which has increased its
population size and expanded its range southward in the last 20 years. To
better understand how this species has responded to large-scale changes,
we tracked individuals during the non-breeding winter period from five
colonies across the latitudinal range of breeding sites in the WAP,
including from a recently-established colony. Results highlight
latitudinal gradients in movement; strong associations with shallow,
coastal habitats along the entire Antarctic Peninsula; and movements that
are independent of, yet constrained by, sea ice. It is clear that coastal
habitats essential to gentoo penguins during the breeding season are
similarly critical during winter. Larger movements of birds from northern
colonies in the WAP further suggest that leap-frog migration may influence
colonization events by facilitating nest-area prospecting and use of new
haul-out sites. Our results support efforts to develop a marine protected
area around the WAP. Winter habitats used by gentoo penguins outline high
priority areas for improving management of the spatiotemporally
concentrated krill (Euphausia superba) fishery that operates in this
region during winter.