Article Review “Tuxedo Junction” By Mary Roach
Introduction
The article I have chosen to review is “Tuxedo Junction.” It appears in the July 2001 issue of Discover Magazine, Volume 22, Number 7, pages 54-62. The article is informative and interesting. It focuses on one woman’s long-term study of Magellanic Penguins in South America.
The Magellanic Penguin is one of the 17 different species of penguins. Penguins are part of the Phylum Vertebrata, Class Aves, Order Sphenisciformes, and Family Spheniscidae. Its scientific name is Spheniscus magellanicus.
Penguins grow to be about 60 cm tall. Their weight fluctuates throughout the year but is generally around 4-6 kg. They have black backs and predominantly white fronts; the front usually has some black spots.
Magellanic Penguins live in southern South America. They mate and set up their nests in southern Chile and Argentina, but they migrate through the Atlantic Ocean as far north as Uruguay and Brazil. They make this 6-7 month journey every year in search of food.
Penguins have a slow, awkward waddle on land. They have wings, but cannot fly. However, they spend much of their time at sea. They are fast swimming water birds. They can reach up to 15 mph under water! Their diet is predominantly made up of sea creatures such as fish, squid, hake, and anchovies. Their main predators in the ocean are sharks and seals. Their predators on land are mainly animals that have been brought into their habitat by man such as cats and foxes. Their eggs and chicks are also hunted by birds called skuas.
Penguins are like humans in many ways. First, they walk upright on two feet. They are also curious and social. The parents share the responsibility of caring for the young and are known to stay together for extended periods. Some have been known to keep the same mate for up to 17 years.
Article Summary
Dee Boersma is one of the premier penguin researchers in the world. She has been studying the same colony of Magellanic Penguins for 19 years. She teaches in the zoology department at the University of Washington, but takes the time to journey to South America every year to study penguins.
The study is called the Magellanic Penguin Project. There are an estimated 4,000 birds involved in this study. It all started when in 1982, a Japanese company proposed the killing of 40,000 Magellanic Penguins a year in order to make items such as oil and golf gloves. Due to many protests, the government of Argentina decided to delay the deal with the Japanese until more was discovered about the penguins. This eventually led to a long-term study.
The penguins leave Punta Tombo every spring and swim up the west coast of South America. They make this journey to find food. With the use of transmitters, Dr. Boersma has been able to track their migration routes. The transmitters let her know exactly where the penguins are at all times. She attaches them to the penguins’ lower back with a special adhesive. The adhesive does not hurt the animal. It eventually wears off, and the transmitters sinks into the Atlantic.
The penguins have unique features that make the long migration possible. Their bodies are streamlined for swimming fast. The little feet that inhibit their movement on land become helpful steering devices when they are under water. They have also developed solid bones. The closest related fossil to the modern penguin is an animal that has hollow bones. Over millions of years, penguin bones have become solid in order to improve its swimming ability.
They also have a biological navigational system. They have an innate biological clock that they use in connection with the sun and the night stars. In addition, they have other biological features that are even more helpful. They have microscopic magnetite particles in their heads. Scientists do not yet fully understand how the penguins produce this avian magnetite. Having these tiny particles of magnetic iron oxide enables the penguins to realign themselves if they get off course. The earth’s magnetic pull causes them to know when they are straying from the path.
The Magellanic Penguins also have complex stomachs that allow them to carry food for long periods of time. They actually use their stomachs as storage areas until they can get back to their nest. Dr. Boersma believes that the penguins do this by lowering the pH level in their stomachs. By lowering the pH, Magellanic Penguins are able to store undigested food during the long journey home and deliver it to their hungry chicks.
Magellanic Penguin can be very loyal to their mates. Some couples stay together for many years. Both parents watch over the chick and hunt for food for the chicks. However, they are not very sentimental creatures. Mothers will not become upset if their eggs are tampered with. Dr. Boersma has even traded eggs from mother to mother, and the mothers do not show any concern. They also do not care about their dead. Dr. Boersma recalls how one male penguin used his dead offspring as furniture.
Dr. Boersma addresses the problems with getting funding for her project. Society does not place great importance on the study of exotic birds. Corporations are quick to hand out money toward human health and longevity issues, but they drag their feet when it comes to finding money for less popular issues such as the study of penguins. There have been problems along the way, but she has stayed steadfast in her determination.
Comments
The migration distance of the Magellanic Penguin is amazing. It is hard to believe that such a small creature can swim such a great distance. Their route consistency is equally amazing. I am anxious to find out if and when scientists determine how penguins produce tiny particles of magnetite.
The theory of evolution has always interested me, and I am always appreciative of new evidence supporting its validity. The idea that penguins have developed solid bones is fascinating. Their ancient ancestors had hollow bones, but the penguin needed solid bones to reach greater depths in the water.
One of the aspects of the Magellanic Penguin colony that I found interesting is their loyalty to their mates. The article explains that many penguins stay with the same mate for years, but it is also clear that many do not stay together. It sounds as though the penguin divorce rate is similar to that of human beings. Females will choose a bachelor over their mate if the bachelor proves to be the better provider. Fortunately, this reason for divorce is not as common in humans!
This is a well-written article. It is very informative yet entertaining in style. The author is careful to blend the right amounts of facts, dialogue, and descriptive narrative. Mary Roach portrays Dr. Boersma as a very likable character. She is intelligent and curious, and she is determined and fun.
Bibliography
Mary Roach; “Tuxedo Junction;” Discover Magazine, July 2002, Volume 22, Number 7, pages 54-62.
Pantagonia Penguins Make a Come Back
Monterey Bay Aquarium: Focus On Penguins