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Status and global population trend of the Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus along the Argentine coast

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Abstract

The Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus is one of the emblematic species of the Argentine Atlantic coast, and its population dynamics provide valuable information for coastal ecosystem monitoring. Despite its wide distribution, colony abundance and spatial configuration along the Argentine coast have undergone significant changes in recent decades. This study aims to characterize the current status and trends of breeding colonies throughout its distribution along the Argentine Atlantic coast. Together with our own surveys we conducted an exhaustive literature review, integrating more than three decades of published and unpublished information on 65 active breeding colonies distributed from Río Negro to Tierra del Fuego, including the Malvinas/Falkland Islands. Abundance estimates were compiled and analyzed by colony, allowing for the evaluation of individual trends and the estimation of an overall population trend for the species in the country. While trends varied among individual colonies, the overall results indicate a moderate, although not statistically significant, multi-decadal population increase of approximately 2% per year, based on colony-specific trends derived from long-term monitoring data. Based on individual colony trends, total abundances were estimated, projecting approximately 1.28 million breeding pairs by the year 2024. Although regional differences were found, there is a sustained increase in the total number of active colonies, an expansion into new areas, and growth in several already established colonies. This result contrasts with previous perceptions of widespread decline and reinforces evidence of a reconfiguration in the species’ breeding distribution. These changes respond to a combination of ecological factors, dispersal processes, and variations in anthropogenic pressure. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining systematic monitoring programs and adapting conservation strategies to the spatial and temporal dynamism observed.

Data availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to conservation restrictions and the extensive compilation effort involved, but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We express our gratitude to the park rangers and staff of Islote Lobos National Park Leonardo Juber, Esteban Tazzioli, and Franco Miranda, for their valuable assistance during fieldwork. We also received important support from Dennis Landete (CPA, CIMAS), Sebastián Leal, and Simón García, who collaborated in data collection and logistics. We further thank Amira Mandado and Andrea Velázquez (San Antonio Bay Natural Protected Area) for sharing information that contributed to this study.

Funding

This work was funded by the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET, PIP Project No. 11220200101942) and the National Parks Administration (APN).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos Almirante Storni (CIMAS, CONICET), San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro, Argentina

    Jesica D. Hombre, Magdalena Arias & Raúl A. C. González

  2. Facultad de Ciencias Marinas (FACIMAR, Universidad Nacional del Comahue), San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro, Argentina

    Magdalena Arias & Raúl A. C. González

  3. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Chubut. Grupo de Investigación en Energía, Materiales y Sustentabilidad, San Antonio Oeste, Río Negro, Argentina

    Mauro F. Carrasco

  4. Centro de Estudios de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR, CENPAT, CONICET), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

    Enrique A. Crespo

  5. Centro de Ciencias Naturales, Ambientales y Antropológicas, Universidad Maimónides y Fundación Azara, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Magdalena Arias

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  1. Jesica D. Hombre
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  2. Magdalena Arias
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  3. Mauro F. Carrasco
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  4. Raúl A. C. González
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  5. Enrique A. Crespo
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Contributions

J.D.H. conducted the literature review, completed the database provided by E.A.C., performed the analyses, carried out fieldwork at Islote Lobos National Park, and drafted the first version of the manuscript. M.A. participated in fieldwork at Islote Lobos National Park, contributed to the statistical analysis, and to manuscript revision. M.F.C. designed the spatial model used to estimate the Magellanic penguin population at Islote Lobos National Park and reviewed the final manuscript. R.A.G. contributed to the manuscript through literature review, editing, and participation in the revision process. E.A.C. provided the initial database, assisted in manuscript writing, and contributed to its revision. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to
Jesica D. Hombre.

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Hombre, J.D., Arias, M., Carrasco, M.F. et al. Status and global population trend of the Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus along the Argentine coast.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33756-3

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Keywords


  • Spheniscus magellanicus
  • Magellanic penguin
  • Population trends
  • Breeding colonies
  • Long-term monitoring
  • Southwest Atlantic

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