Comment on population trends of southern rockhopper penguins (**Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome**) on Isla Pingüino, Santa Cruz, Argentina

Gandini et al. (2016) recently published a paper showing an exponential population increase of southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome; hereafter: SRP) on Isla Pingüino, Santa Cruz, Argentina (hereafter: IP). Alongside population counts, reproductive success was measured in some years, and the authors, furthermore, present the numbers of tourists that visited the island each year as a potential source of disturbance. The observed population increase is remarkable and worthy of publication, especially when considering the vulnerable conservation status of the species. The interpretation of the results and the conclusion that this population increase could not be obtained by intrinsic growth but was likely driven by immigrationprobably from the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas (hereafter FI-M)is, however, flawed for several different reasons that I will discuss below. To prove my point, I will demonstrate with a population model that the population could have grown intrinsically to its current size without immigration.

Publication year:2017

Keywords:A1 Journal article

Accessibility:Open