Interactions
Intraspecific Interactions
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The
little blue penguin is consistently reacting and interacting with other
little blue penguins that reside in their colony. The little blue
penguin prefers to live in colonies were their burrows are only 2 to 3
meters apart from other burrows (Waas 1988). They are a very social bird
and use an array of vocal calls to communicate with other members of the
colony (Chung 2011, Waas 1988). The little blue penguin is very vocal
and that is a major form of their communication. Joseph Waas explains
that three calls are commonly heard in a little blue penguin colony. The
first one is a male solo call which is used by an unmated male trying to
find a mate. The second call that can be heard is a territorial mutual
display, which is heard during a territory invasion or after a fight. The
third call that could be heard is a sexual mutual display, which precedes
copulation. The sexual displays can be distinguished from other calls
due to the male drumming his flippers on the back and sides of the
female (Waas 1988). Communication is very important amongst the members
of the colony. Each penguin creates a unique song that is used for
communication between mates and offspring amongst the chatter of the
other colony members (Chung 2011). The male can be very protective of
its territory (burrow) which can cause intraspecific encounters with
other blue penguins (Waas 1990). After a victory, a male will display
“triumph calls” to other members of the colony showing their victory and
dominance (Mouterde et al 2012, Waas 1988). These calls are not signs of
dominance for mating purposes rather just to brag to the colony of a
victory (Mouterde et al 2012). The female can also be very protective of
its’ borrow as well. They will fend off intruders especially if they are
guarding their young (Mouterde et al 2012). The little blue penguins
generally choose a life-long mate when they reach the age of maturity
(see Reproduction for more info).
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Interspecific Interactions
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The
little blue penguin, being the smallest bird in the penguin family, has
a lot of predators. Some of the animals that are constantly feeding on
the little blue penguin are fur seals,
sharks,
and gulls (Clemens et al 2011). Some predators that the penguin faces on
land are ferrets and dogs, and in the sea
killer
whales have also been known to hunt little blue penguins (Clemens et
al. 2011). The attack on the population that has had the most
devastating effect is from unnatural predators such as dogs and ferrets
(Clemens et al. 2011). Ferrets and
dogs
have been introduced to the penguins’ environment, and the blue penguins
is an easy target (Chung 2011). Peter Dann explains that little blue
penguins travel to the sea and back in groups to avoid being singled out
by a predator. They also use the time of day to avoid detection. The
penguins usually travel from their burrow to the ocean at dawn and
return at dark. This helps to avoid detection from predators (Dann
2013). The little blue penguin does have an advantage when it is in the
ocean. The white color on their stomach helps to camouflage them from a
predator looking up at them in the ocean. Also the dark blue on their
backs helps to blend them in from predators that are looking down on
them. On land these colors do not really help them to blend into their
environment as much, which makes them really vulnerable on land. The
little blue penguin is vulnerable to many different parasites whether it
is fleas, ticks, mosquitos, and lice (Roscoe 2013). These parasites do
minor damage to their hosts, but can create bigger problems by spreading
harmful viruses to the penguin (Roscoe 2013). Some of these viruses have
been found to be very lethal to the penguin population (Roscoe 2013).
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Human Interactions
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Humans
have had positive and negative effects on the little blue penguin
population throughout the years. Some negative effects humans have
indirectly imposed on the penguin population was the introduction of
invasive species to their habitat (van Dooren 2011). Some of these
invasive species are foxes and dogs (Roscoe 2013, van Dooren 2011).
These species were brought to Australia by humans and have caused
penguin mortality which has forced some colonies to take refuge on
islands for safety (van Dooren 2011). Also the growth of the human
population is destroying the little blue penguin’s natural coastal
habitat (Roscoe 2011, Dann 2013, van Dooren 2011). Humans are building
homes and roads on the penguin’s habitat and fishing industries are
making food shortages for the penguins as well (Dann 2013). Another
negative factor that has a devastating effect on the penguins is human
pollution such as oil spills (Roscoe 2013). This loss of habitat causes
problems for the penguins because they are closer to dangerous human
activity such as traffic, and forced to build their burrows amongst
human chaos (van Dooren 2011). Some positive effects humans have on the
little penguin are abundant as well. Humans are realizing that the
penguin population is decreasing so they are preserving natural habitat
such as creating safe nesting boxes to serve as a burrow for the
penguins (Herber et al. 2008). These safe boxes provide a safe burrow
for the penguins and also help with research (Herber et al. 2008)
Tourist also come from all over the world to watch the penguin’s parade
to the sea and back to their burrows (Chung 2011).
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We were not able to gather all this information by ourselves, check out the references that helped make this website more educational!
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