Coordination of Incubation Routines and Mate Choice in Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)

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Abstract
I studied the mating patterns and foraging-trip durations for a colony of Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) over two consecutive breeding seasons. Foraging-trip duration was not predicted by the time spent fasting before leaving the nest, but was consistent with the time remaining until hatching of the chicks. Consequently, foraging trips of pairs that successfully coordinated their incubation routine were complementary. The complementarity was due at least in part to the assortative effects of mate choice. Pairs that successfully coordinated the first three foraging trips remained together the next season; pairs that did not, separated. I argue that Adélie Penguins should retain their mates if partners are synchronous in their arrival at the rookery the next year and that, therefore, pairs unable to coordinate incubation must also be unlikely to coordinate their arrival at the rookery the next season.