Variation in corticosterone responses to handling within and between Adelie penguins, Ross Island

Corticosterone responses to handling and behavioural responses to the approach of a person are two responses of adelie penguins to potential stressors. We measured these responses in different birds in 2001-2002 season, and in the following season (2002-2003) examined whether there is a relationship between the endocrine and behavioural responses of individual birds. Behavioural responses were measured in 24 incubating birds with blood sample collected the following day for corticosterone measurements. The behavioural response was repeated on 4 other occasions to determine the amount of variation in response of individual birds.