Oil "Spills" Out Danger for Penguins

Over 10,000 gallons of oil are sloshed along the South American coastline—catalyzing habitual dangers for unsuspecting Magellanic Penguins.

Reproductive Harm

According to an observational study published in The Auk, oiled Magellanic penguins exhibited a lower chance of reproduction due to irregular hormonal levels, lower body mass, thus resulting in unsuccessful breeding seasons (Fowler, 1995).

Body mass of oiled penguins within several studies is significantly lower than non-oiled penguins of both genders (Fowler, 1995). The study concluded that the body mass of males were approximately 18% lower than those of non-oiled, while females were approximately 35% lower than those of non-oiled (Fowler, 1995).

Conjunctly, reproductive hormones necessary for successful copulation and offspring rearing displayed significant values of decreased hormone blood levels (Fowler, 1995). Succinctly decreased levels of luteinizing hormones (LH) are present in both male and females of oiled Magellanic penguins (Fowler, 1995). Furthermore, suffocation of cell respiration and encapsulation of vital organs with oil leads to more complicated issues (Rey, 2012).

The reproductive behaviors of Magellanic penguins are driven by hormonal secretions (Stokes, 2014). Several hormones are responsible for sexual reproduction and stimulation of other bodily functions (Stokes, 2014). Testosterone, progesterone, and LH levels were all seen to be much lower in oiled penguins as opposed to non-oiled penguins (Fowler, 1995).