Many people think penguins choose their mates for life, but it’s more complicated than that. Their relationships change based on species and circumstances.
Take the little penguin, for example. Most of them return to the same partner each breeding season. However, some look for new partners, leading to what scientists call “penguin divorce.”
Interestingly, how often penguins divorce can reflect the health of their population. A study from Monash University in Australia found that divorce rates can indicate how well a penguin colony is doing overall.
The researchers studied little penguins on Phillip Island—home to about 37,000 of these birds—for 13 breeding seasons. They explored how different social and environmental factors, including divorce, influenced reproductive success.
The findings showed that divorce rates are strongly linked to how many chicks survive. Seasons with fewer divorces tended to produce more offspring. But that doesn’t mean all penguins stay faithful to their partners.
Australian penguins sometimes stray from their partners. (photo: GettyImages)
According to Richard Reina, a co-author of the study, penguins usually stick with their mates during good times. However, there are often little flings on the side. If a breeding season doesn’t go well, they might search for a new partner, hoping for better success next time.
There are various reasons penguins might divorce, such as not being able to reproduce or facing ecological challenges. These factors can destabilize their relationships.
In the long run, a divorce might help penguins find better mates who match them more closely. But if many penguins choose to divorce in one season, it can create problems for the entire colony. Searching for new partners takes time and can delay breeding, which is crucial for the colony’s success.
The researchers recorded nearly 250 divorces among about 1,000 pairs. The divorce rate was highest during challenging breeding seasons and lower when conditions were favorable.
Newly formed pairs may struggle to reproduce well at first. In general, pairs that have spent more time together tend to have better breeding success than those who are just starting to mate.
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