Exploring the potential of aerial drone imagery to distinguish breeding Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins in Antarctica
Penguins are critical indicator species for detecting changes in the Antarctic ecosystem. As climate change impacts the Antarctic environment, the distribution of penguin breeding populations is also shifting. In the Antarctic Peninsula region, several penguin species’ breeding areas overlap. Given...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014687 |
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| author | Christian Pfeifer Stefan Knetsch Jakob Maercker Osama Mustafa Marie-Charlott Rümmler Alexander Brenning |
| author_facet | Christian Pfeifer Stefan Knetsch Jakob Maercker Osama Mustafa Marie-Charlott Rümmler Alexander Brenning |
| author_sort | Christian Pfeifer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Penguins are critical indicator species for detecting changes in the Antarctic ecosystem. As climate change impacts the Antarctic environment, the distribution of penguin breeding populations is also shifting. In the Antarctic Peninsula region, several penguin species’ breeding areas overlap. Given the isolated location of penguin colonies, remote sensing data are essential to detect large-scale changes in their distribution and species composition. While it is established that remote sensing data can effectively monitor penguin breeding populations during the breeding season, species differentiation remains challenging due to their similar appearance. The aim of this study is to explore the possibilities and limitations of species discrimination in aerial optical imagery, particularly using very high-resolution aerial imagery. We investigate the spatial resolution required to distinguish species based on their phenotype. Additionally, we explore the possibility and reliability of discriminating species by analysing differences in guano cover appearance, spatial distribution of individuals, posture, and the presence of chicks. Our findings indicate that differentiation is feasible for nearly all the investigated distinguishing features, although the reliability and spatial resolution requirements of the aerial images vary significantly. Consequently, these results enable specific flight planning for optimal species discrimination under the given conditions and serve as the basis for future automated mapping of penguin species using machine learning, facilitating early detection of changes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4817af7401d5424e835c7d9cafb62b91 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj-art-4817af7401d5424e835c7d9cafb62b912025-01-31T05:10:28ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-01-01170113011Exploring the potential of aerial drone imagery to distinguish breeding Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins in AntarcticaChristian Pfeifer0Stefan Knetsch1Jakob Maercker2Osama Mustafa3Marie-Charlott Rümmler4Alexander Brenning5Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Department of Geography, Jena, Germany; ThINK – Thuringian Institute of Sustainability and Climate Protection GmbH, Jena, Germany; Corresponding author at: Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Department of Geography, Jena, Germany.ThINK – Thuringian Institute of Sustainability and Climate Protection GmbH, Jena, GermanyThINK – Thuringian Institute of Sustainability and Climate Protection GmbH, Jena, GermanyThINK – Thuringian Institute of Sustainability and Climate Protection GmbH, Jena, GermanyThINK – Thuringian Institute of Sustainability and Climate Protection GmbH, Jena, GermanyFriedrich Schiller University Jena, Department of Geography, Jena, GermanyPenguins are critical indicator species for detecting changes in the Antarctic ecosystem. As climate change impacts the Antarctic environment, the distribution of penguin breeding populations is also shifting. In the Antarctic Peninsula region, several penguin species’ breeding areas overlap. Given the isolated location of penguin colonies, remote sensing data are essential to detect large-scale changes in their distribution and species composition. While it is established that remote sensing data can effectively monitor penguin breeding populations during the breeding season, species differentiation remains challenging due to their similar appearance. The aim of this study is to explore the possibilities and limitations of species discrimination in aerial optical imagery, particularly using very high-resolution aerial imagery. We investigate the spatial resolution required to distinguish species based on their phenotype. Additionally, we explore the possibility and reliability of discriminating species by analysing differences in guano cover appearance, spatial distribution of individuals, posture, and the presence of chicks. Our findings indicate that differentiation is feasible for nearly all the investigated distinguishing features, although the reliability and spatial resolution requirements of the aerial images vary significantly. Consequently, these results enable specific flight planning for optimal species discrimination under the given conditions and serve as the basis for future automated mapping of penguin species using machine learning, facilitating early detection of changes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014687UAVPenguinPygoscelisSpecies differentiationGuanoFlight planning |
| spellingShingle | Christian Pfeifer Stefan Knetsch Jakob Maercker Osama Mustafa Marie-Charlott Rümmler Alexander Brenning Exploring the potential of aerial drone imagery to distinguish breeding Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins in Antarctica Ecological Indicators UAV Penguin Pygoscelis Species differentiation Guano Flight planning |
| title | Exploring the potential of aerial drone imagery to distinguish breeding Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins in Antarctica |
| title_full | Exploring the potential of aerial drone imagery to distinguish breeding Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins in Antarctica |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the potential of aerial drone imagery to distinguish breeding Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins in Antarctica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the potential of aerial drone imagery to distinguish breeding Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins in Antarctica |
| title_short | Exploring the potential of aerial drone imagery to distinguish breeding Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) penguins in Antarctica |
| title_sort | exploring the potential of aerial drone imagery to distinguish breeding adelie pygoscelis adeliae chinstrap pygoscelis antarcticus and gentoo pygoscelis papua penguins in antarctica |
| topic | UAV Penguin Pygoscelis Species differentiation Guano Flight planning |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014687 |
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