Penguins are among the most iconic marine animals, bridging science, conservation, and public imagination. They are vital sentinels of ocean health, integrating changes across marine food webs and reflecting shifts in climate, prey dynamics, and human impacts. Yet, despite their appeal, more than half of all penguin species are in decline, particularly those inhabiting temperate zones where human pressures are most acute. Advances in technology, from bio-logging to remote sensing and molecular tools, have expanded our understanding of penguin biology and ecology. The International Penguin Conference (IPC) has long served as the leading forum to synthesise this knowledge, creating new opportunities to connect science with conservation action.

The goal of this Research Topic is to capture and amplify the outcomes of the 12th International Penguin Conference (IPC), highlighting new findings, methodologies, and perspectives that address the urgent challenges facing penguins and their ecosystems. Rapid environmental change, combined with complex interactions between climate, fisheries, and human activities, demands innovative approaches to conservation. By publishing selected contributions, we aim to provide an authoritative, peer-reviewed resource that advances understanding of penguin population dynamics, ecology, and conservation management. This Research Topic will also emphasise the importance of penguins as flagship species for engaging the public and influencing policy, ensuring that research outcomes inform tangible action in marine conservation.

This Research Topic will include selected papers from the 12th IPC and welcomes contributions aligned with the conference themes.

We invite original research, reviews, methodological advances, and policy-focused articles addressing:

(i) Population trends and demographic processes

(ii) Foraging ecology, prey availability, and fisheries interactions

(iii) Impacts of climate change and environmental variability

(iv) Conservation strategies, biosecurity, veterinary science, zoo-based research and ecosystem management

(v) Novel tools and technologies in penguin research

(vi) The role of penguins in education, tourism, and outreach

By combining ecological, physiological, and applied perspectives, this collection will deliver a timely and comprehensive reference to guide the science and conservation of penguins in a changing world.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Global Penguin Research and Conservation