Analysis of blood samples for genetic difference and similarity within and between breeding groups of Adelie penguins and Skuas from Cape Bird, Cape Royds and Cape Crozier, Ross Island

This study investigated whether the separate breeding populations of skuas and adelie penguins on Ross Island (Cape Bird, Cape Royds and Cape Crozier) are genetically distinguishable and whether there is geographic patterning within each population.

Blood was obtained from fledgling penguins and skuas from these three breeding localities. Fledglings were selected by: a) penguin chicks randomly allocated throughout the rookery, b) all penguin chicks from one or two isolated small colonies, c) skua chicks randomly from throughout the area and d) complete families of skuas from a densely settled area. >40 chicks from each of the first 3 classess and >10 families in the last class were collected.