• Energy Research

The Magellanic penguin breeds in coastal Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands. Nests are built under bushes or in burrows, and they lay eggs in warm places when the temperature remains over 20. Magellanic penguins travel in large flocks when hunting for food. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Magellanic penguin as near threatened.We sequenced the genome of an adult Magellanic penguin from Chiloe Island, Chile (provided by Juan Bouzat) to a depth of approximately 171x with short reads from a series of libraries with various insert sizes (250bp-20Kb). The assembled scaffolds of high quality sequences total 1.2Gb, with the contig and scaffold N50 values of 40.48Kb and 12.09Mb respectively. We identified 16795 protein-coding genes.

The African penguin (also known as jackass penguin and black-footed penguin) is endemic to southern African coasts. The pink gland above the eyes helps to adjust to changing temperatures: when it's hotter, more blood is sent to these glands to be cooled by the surrounding air. It is a charismatic species and is popular with tourists. The African penguin has declined rapidly and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it as endangered.We sequenced the genome of an adult African penguin from Luderitz, Namibia (provided by Kim Labuschagne) to a depth of approximately 115x with short reads from a series of libraries with various insert sizes (250bp-20Kb). The assembled scaffolds of high quality sequences total 1.23Gb, with the contig and scaffold N50 values of 99.03Kb and 14.67Mb respectively. We identified 16134 protein-coding genes.

The Macaroni penguin is a crested penguin with golden-yellow crests found widely on subantarctic islands to the Antarctic peninsula. The Macaroni penguin is often considered a separate species from the Royal penguin, given its unique black facial plumage and wide breeding range. Several recent genetic studies, however, have demonstrated that the Macaroni penguin and Royal penguin are probably incipient. They are the most numerous penguin species. However, widespread declines have been recorded in many populations and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Macaroni penguin as vulnerable.We sequenced the genome of an adult Macaroni penguin from Marion Island, Prince Edward Islands (provided by Peter Ryan) to a depth of approximately 109x with short reads from a series of libraries with various insert sizes (250bp-20Kb). The assembled scaffolds of high quality sequences total 1.25Gb, with the contig and scaffold N50 values of 160.01Kb and 13.16Mb respectively. We identified 16311 protein-coding genes.

The King penguin is the second largest species of penguin. They have a circumpolar range, breeding on the subantarctic islands at the northern reaches of Antarctica, South Georgia, and other temperate islands. They were heavily hunted for oil on Macquarie Island. King penguins appear to have suffered a major population declines, and 70% are expected to disappear in the next eighty years, however they are still considered as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).We sequenced the genome of an adult King penguin from Fortuna Bay, South Georgia (provided by Tom Hart) to a depth of approximately 120x with short reads from a series of libraries with various insert sizes (250bp-20Kb). The assembled scaffolds of high quality sequences total 1.24Gb, with the contig and scaffold N50 values of 114.03Kb and 2.77Mb respectively. We identified 15195 protein-coding genes.

The Erect-crested penguin is endemic only to the New Zealand Antipodes Islands and Bounty Islands. It is a crested penguin closely related to the extinct Chatham Island crested penguin, and is named after its upright yellow crests. The Erect-crested penguin breeds in large colonies on rocky terrain. Little is known about its biology and breeding habits. Populations have recently declined and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it as endangered. The Erect-crested penguin is a Taonga, or treasured possession in Mori culture.We sequenced the genome of an adult Erect-crested penguin from Antipodes Island, New Zealand sub-Antarctic (provided by Chris Rickard/Sarah Fraser) to a depth of approximately 131x with short reads from a series of libraries with various insert sizes (250bp-20Kb). The assembled scaffolds of high quality sequences total 1.25Gb, with the contig and scaffold N50 values of 67.93Kb and 1.83Mb respectively. We identified 15786 protein-coding genes.

The Humboldt penguin inhabits coastal Chile and Peru. They nest on islands and rocky coasts, holes in guano and in caves. Humboldt penguin populations are declining, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies them as vulnerable.We sequenced the genome of an adult Humboldt penguin from Copenhagen Zoo, of Peru and Chile lineage (provided by Mads Bertelsen) to a depth of approximately 172x with short reads from a series of libraries with various insert sizes (250bp-20Kb). The assembled scaffolds of high quality sequences total 1.21Gb, with the contig and scaffold N50 values of 19.38Kb and 5.94Mb respectively. We identified 16587 protein-coding genes.

The White-flippered penguin is a small penguin closely related to the New Zealand little blue penguin. It is occasionally considered a unique species or sometimes a subspecies of the New Zealand little blue penguin, however genetic research indicates that the two taxa are probably incipient. The reason it is occasionally considered a separate species or subspecies is because it has white markings on its flippers. Most taxonomists consider it to be a colour morph of the New Zealand little blue penguin. It nests in headlands, caves, rock jumbles and in the sheltered areas at the bases of bays, only on Banks Peninsula and Motunau Island near Christchurch, New Zealand. The white-flippered penguin is a Taonga, or treasured possession in Mori culture. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers all Eudyptula penguins as least concern.We sequenced the genome of an adult White-flippered penguin from Christchurch Antarctic Centre, originally from Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand South Island (provided by Pauline Howard) to a depth of approximately 100x with short reads from a series of libraries with various insert sizes (250bp-20Kb). The assembled scaffolds of high quality sequences total 1.3Gb, with the contig and scaffold N50 values of 93.53Kb and 20.85Mb respectively. We identified 17424 protein-coding genes.

The Yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho in Mori) is native to New Zealand. It breeds along the eastern and south-eastern coasts of the New Zealand South Island, Stewart Island, Auckland Islands and Campbell Islands. They are a popular tourist venue in Otago. On the New Zealand mainland, the Yellow-eyed penguin has declined significantly - attributed to a range of factors including climate change and fisheries. Local extinction on the mainland is possible in the next 20 to 40 years. They are larger in size, but very closely related to the recently extinct Waitaha penguin and Chatham Island Yellow-eyed penguin. Genetic work demonstrates that the Yellow-eyed penguin expanded its range from the sub-Antarctic islands to the main islands of New Zealand after the extinction of the Waitaha penguin. The Yellow-eyed penguin is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is considered one of the world's rarest penguin species. The Yellow-eyed penguin is a Taonga, or treasured possession in Mori culture.We sequenced the genome of an adult Yellow-eyed penguin from Otago Peninsula, New Zealand South Island (provided by Melanie Young) to a depth of approximately 88x with short reads from a series of libraries with various insert sizes (250bp-20Kb). The assembled scaffolds of high quality sequences total 1.25Gb, with the contig and scaffold N50 values of 81.99Kb and 22.24Mb respectively. We identified 16563 protein-coding genes.

The Eastern rockhopper penguin is a small crested penguin. It is closely related to the Western rockhopper penguin, however there is still some debate about whether both are considered incipient species, sub-species or distinct species. Recent genetic work suggests they are probably separate species. The Eastern rockhopper penguin breeds widely on subantarctic islands from New Zealand Campbell/Auckland/Antipodes Islands to the Prince Edward Islands group. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Southern rockhopper penguin group (including both the Eastern and the Western rockhopper penguin) as vulnerable.We sequenced the genome of an adult Eastern rockhopper penguin from Possession Island, Crozet Islands (provided by Yves Cherel) to a depth of approximately 163x with short reads from a series of libraries with various insert sizes (250bp-20Kb). The assembled scaffolds of high quality sequences total 1.25Gb, with the contig and scaffold N50 values of 72.54Kb and 6.13Mb respectively. We identified 15963 protein-coding genes.