Argos Platform Transmitting Terminal (PTT) tracking of macaroni penguins from Zavodovski Island, South Sandwich Islands, December 2023 - March 2024
GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/02251
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Summary
Abstract:
This dataset contains satellite tracking data from eight breeding adult macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) monitored at Zavodovski Island, South Sandwich Islands, during the 2023 to 2024 breeding season. The dataset comprises time-stamped geographic locations derived from Argos satellite telemetry, including latitude, longitude, and associated location uncertainty metrics. These data provide insights into the at-sea movements and distribution of two key Southern Ocean seabird species during a critical breeding period.
These tracking data were collected as part of a wider project to establish a baseline for monitoring penguin populations and terrestrial biodiversity on Zavodovski Island, a globally important but data-deficient biodiversity area. The dataset supports investigations of penguin foraging behaviour, habitat use, and seasonal movements, and can be used to assess potential spatial overlap with Southern Ocean krill fisheries. The data will contribute to evidence-based conservation and management planning for the South Sandwich Islands, including the development and refinement of marine and terrestrial protected areas.
Darwin Plus (DPLUS 186) 'Evidence-based conservation of key biodiversity in the South Sandwich Islands' funded the project, with contributions from the Antarctic Research Trust and Talesmith.
Keywords:
Eudyptes chrysolophus, PTT tracking, South Sandwich Islands, Zavodovski Island, macaroni penguin
Citation
Ratcliffe, N., Dickens, J., & Clucas, G. (2026). Argos Platform Transmitting Terminal (PTT) tracking of macaroni penguins from Zavodovski Island, South Sandwich Islands, December 2023 - March 2024 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/459597b2-ca0c-4110-b59c-62490867f348
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ASSOCIATED DATA SET(S)
- https://www.doi.org/10.5285/529808a4-3967-49fe-abf6-fdb4fe5a7e5e
- https://www.doi.org/10.5285/7220dc6b-2f52-4160-a6c0-e57c50963308
- https://www.doi.org/10.5285/e2f65907-7aaa-4a45-917c-6f31ca644ad6
PROJECT HOME PAGE
Constraints
| Access Constraints: | The data are under embargo until publication of the associated manuscript; estimated Nov 2026. |
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| Use Constraints: | This data is governed by the NERC data policy http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/sites/data/policy/ and supplied under Open Government Licence v.3 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/. |
Basic Information
| Creation Date: | 2026-08-03 |
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| Dataset Progress: | Complete |
| Dataset Language: | English |
| ISO Topic Categories: |
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| Parameters: |
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| Personnel: | |
| Name | UK Polar Data Centre |
| Role(s) | Metadata Author |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | Dr Norman Ratcliffe |
| Role(s) | Investigator, Technical Contact |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | John Dickens |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | Dr Gemma Clucas |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Organisation | Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University |
| Parent Dataset: | N/A |
Additional Information
| Reference: | The data are to be published in an accepted article in Current Biology: "Population declines and changes in community composition at the world's largest penguin colony". | |
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| Quality: | Information on location accuracy can be obtained from the error ellipses for each data point. These are 'error semi-major axis' (length of ellipse, in km), 'error semi-minor access' (width) and 'error ellipse orientation' (of major axis, in degrees). Generic ARGOS quality classes are also assigned to each location in the 'Quality' column. | |
| Lineage/Methodology: | Zavodovski Island was visited during an expedition supported by yacht between 10 and 16 December 2023. Eight breeding macaroni penguins were equipped with SPOT 367A PTTs (107 x 18 x 21 mm, 45 g; Wildlife Computers, Redmond, USA). Devices were attached using Tesa 4651 tape and epoxy resin. Biometric data were measured using a Pesola spring balance (weight) and vernier callipers (bill depth, bill length, head and bill length). Birds were then released and no attempt was made to recapture them, as devices would have been shed during the moult in March. Satellite tags transmitted signals every 90 secs for three months, which were detected by orbiting ARGOS satellites that triangulate locations from the Doppler shift. Key variables derived from this and used in further analysis are: the date-time, latitude, longitude, and the error ellipse variables (which encompass the area in which the animal may have been located, based on underlying uncertainty of the satellite estimate). Approximately ten fixes are obtained per day with accuracy of 5 to 100s of km accuracy, depending on satellite overpasses, bird location and its diving behaviour. Tags transmitted throughout the breeding and pre-moult periods, and on 22 March the IDs were returned to ARGOS and satellite reception ceased. |
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Locality
| Temporal Coverage: | |
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| Start Date | 2023-12-12 |
| End Date | 2024-03-22 |
| Spatial Coverage: | |
| Latitude | |
| Southernmost | -57.01 |
| Northernmost | -50.78 |
| Longitude | |
| Westernmost | -33.9 |
| Easternmost | -18.14 |
| Altitude | |
| Min Altitude | N/A |
| Max Altitude | N/A |
| Depth | |
| Min Depth | N/A |
| Max Depth | N/A |
| Location: | |
| Location | South Sandwich Islands |
| Detailed Location | Zavodovski Island |
Instrumentation
| Data Collection: | SPOT 367A PTTs (107 x 18 x 21 mm, 45 g; Wildlife Computers, Redmond, USA). |
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Storage
| Distribution: | |
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| Distribution Media | Online Internet (HTTP) |
| Distribution Size | 1.5MB |
| Distribution Format | ASCII |
| Fees | N/A |
| Data Storage: | 8 x .csv files of tracking data [1.5MB] 1 x .csv file with deployment data [1KB] |