QUESTION:
Which penguin would die first, a male or a female?

    
        Dan L., 14
        Lewiston Alternative Middle School
        Lewiston Idaho

ANSWER from Donna Patterson, Research Assistant, Dr. Fraser's Team
            Palmer Station, Antarctica
            Thu, 20 Mar 1997 14:14:18 -0500


Hello Dan,

It is very difficult to accurately tell  who would die first (males or 
females) since penguins are not so easy to tell apart.  We use 
flipper bands to follow individuals over many seasons, but the loss 
rate of flipper bands can be very high (they spring open and fall 
off).    Also, some species of penguin sometimes takes a season  
"off" during their breeding years.    If you don't see a certain bird, you 
may assume that it has died when it could have either lost a band or 
taken a year off.   Since breeding has a "cost" in terms of survival, 
the birds who begin later (males) or non-breeding adults might have a 
higher overall survival.  

Thanks for your question!
Donna Patterson