National Foundation funds Little Penguins' DNA study

Murdoch’s Little Penguin study in Rockingham has received funding from the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife to research the penguins’ diet using DNA-based analysis.

Leading the state's biggest ever penguin research project, Murdoch University’s Dr Belinda Cannell said she and her fellow researchers hoped the new methodology would determine the risks faced from the booming urban and industrial development.

The study aims to discover what the penguins eat throughout the year, and how this might change with development and climate change.

"This is the western-most penguin colony in the world and the furthest north in WA so if anything happens to this population, it would be a tragedy," Dr Cannell said.

The study will be undertaken by Honour’s student Rebecca Oliver at Murdoch using a DNA-based analysis of faeces that has already proven successful in Macaroni penguins. She will be under the supervision of Dr Cannell and Murdoch’s DNA expert Dr Mike Bunce.

“We will examine the diet of Little Penguins in the Perth metropolitan region and the molecular data will be integrated with information already known about the penguins’ diets,” Dr Cannell said.

“Ultimately the goal of the project is to develop a high resolution DNA-based faecal assay to determine trends in diet composition of Little Penguins.”

The 1000-strong colony has been accredited with the highest conservation status of any penguin population in Australia.

Dr Cannell is encouraging community members interested in helping the local penguins to consider adopting a Penguin Buddy penguin or to make a donation through the Backyard Buddies program or the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife.