Competition:
When resources become limited, organisms must compete for those resources.
When the competition is between organisms of the same species it is referred to as intra-specific competition. If it is between individuals of different species it is inter-specific competition. Between the emperor penguin species, intra-specific competition occurs when they compete for nesting areas. This becomes intense because members of the same species share the same resources.
Predation:
Emperor penguins have 2 types of predators: enemies in the air (Antarctic skuas, seagulls, sheath-bills) and land predators (leopard seals).
The penguins are more at risk in water and safer on land, and smaller species can be attacked by land predators. However, healthy adult penguins are often not afraid on land and depending on species they may stand their ground and be aggressive. In addition, they don’t have weapons to fight off predators and can’t always defend their young. Sharks and killer whales are the primary predators when they dive deep into the water. During migration season, whales will get to the penguins a lot easier since they will be close to the coastline.
Skuas are very clever when it comes to stealing penguin eggs, often working as a team and snatching even when parents are watching over them. One will come towards the penguin that is sitting on the eggs, and when they feel threatened, they will go towards the skua to defend them, while this occurs another skua goes towards the nest and immediately takes the eggs.
Leopard seals are very fast and blend into the water well, they mostly find penguins in winter months when their other sources of food are sacred during this time.
Defence Mechanisms:
When seeking for food, Emperor penguins leap out of the water every few minutes. In the water, they are preyed on by seals and other animals, where they become vulnerable when entering and exiting water at the beginning and end of breeding seasons. Knowing this, they increase individual chances of survival by entering the water in large numbers and swimming out to seas in many directions rapidly. When exiting water, they often are at mercy of strong waves as well as predators and usually dive quite deep and swim quickly to surface and allow their speed to carry them up onto the rocks. They may even time their jump to make best use of wave motion.
When resources become limited, organisms must compete for those resources.
When the competition is between organisms of the same species it is referred to as intra-specific competition. If it is between individuals of different species it is inter-specific competition. Between the emperor penguin species, intra-specific competition occurs when they compete for nesting areas. This becomes intense because members of the same species share the same resources.
Predation:
Emperor penguins have 2 types of predators: enemies in the air (Antarctic skuas, seagulls, sheath-bills) and land predators (leopard seals).
The penguins are more at risk in water and safer on land, and smaller species can be attacked by land predators. However, healthy adult penguins are often not afraid on land and depending on species they may stand their ground and be aggressive. In addition, they don’t have weapons to fight off predators and can’t always defend their young. Sharks and killer whales are the primary predators when they dive deep into the water. During migration season, whales will get to the penguins a lot easier since they will be close to the coastline.
Skuas are very clever when it comes to stealing penguin eggs, often working as a team and snatching even when parents are watching over them. One will come towards the penguin that is sitting on the eggs, and when they feel threatened, they will go towards the skua to defend them, while this occurs another skua goes towards the nest and immediately takes the eggs.
Leopard seals are very fast and blend into the water well, they mostly find penguins in winter months when their other sources of food are sacred during this time.
Defence Mechanisms:
When seeking for food, Emperor penguins leap out of the water every few minutes. In the water, they are preyed on by seals and other animals, where they become vulnerable when entering and exiting water at the beginning and end of breeding seasons. Knowing this, they increase individual chances of survival by entering the water in large numbers and swimming out to seas in many directions rapidly. When exiting water, they often are at mercy of strong waves as well as predators and usually dive quite deep and swim quickly to surface and allow their speed to carry them up onto the rocks. They may even time their jump to make best use of wave motion.
Orcas: to defend themselves from these creatures, penguins use agility and feet. They can swim fast and dodge killer whales, although they cannot turn very quickly, they zig-zag through the water trying to make it to land where they quickly hop onto feet since they know the whales cannot get them once on land.
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Leopard seals: there is not much they can do except avoid them. Penguins can bite occasionally but have no teeth, and beak-bite does not keep leopard seals away. Nonetheless, they mainly just stay in groups and remain alert, if one notices a seal, they make a commotion to alert the others and huddle closely together.
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Skuas: these seabirds are very fond of penguin eggs, where they must watch the skies for predators. The Emperor penguin keeps the egg on its feet, tucked underneath flap of skin. Other penguins may put eggs together, and a ring of adult penguins stand guard around the eggs. Vigilance is key to the best defence method against egg stealers.
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Symbiotic relationships:
This relationship occurs between two organisms that live together in a close, long-term relationship .This penguin species does not share symbiotic relationships with any other organisms since they are the largest of all penguins and live in the coldest climate on Earth.
This relationship occurs between two organisms that live together in a close, long-term relationship .This penguin species does not share symbiotic relationships with any other organisms since they are the largest of all penguins and live in the coldest climate on Earth.