User:Sophiaschoen/sandbox

Plans (prep for peer review)
Note: title needs to be "Galápagos penguin" (adding the accent)

LEAD: Lead definitely needs more information, it's so small. It introduces the topic well but in very simply terms and doesn't set up information that is present in the rest of the article (could introduce, diet, description, behavior)

ORGANIZATION: Well organized and clear but needs more information overall.


 * 1) "Predators and threats" subheading needs work on organization and clarity. Might split up into two parts: Conservation/environmental threats & Predators.
 * 2) Add a "Diet" subheading under "Behavior"
 * 3) The "distribution" part is tiny compared to the others, so need to add more info to that
 * 4) There's a part in the breeding that's just one sentence about some scientist who was the first to breed these penguins in captivity so either that needs more information or should be taken out because it's so small and seems unnecessary.

BALANCE: No, each section is not balanced in length, other parts need more info than others.

NEUTRALITY: Super neutral yay

SOURCES: At the top of the article it states that much of the information needs to be verified with sources (so some information is not sourced), so definitely gonna be working that. There's also not a lot of sources which indicated that the article is relying on a small number of sources for it's information -- could be leaning from one point of view but it seems pretty neutral still. All the sources are reliable though!


 * 1) Adding sources to unsourced material or getting rid of material that has no source/can't be proven --> verifying information

OVERALL: My biggest focus in on the "Breeding" section obviously because we're focusing on sex/biology in this class, so I'll be adding the most to that and working on that first. Once I'm satisfied with that I'll be working on other parts. This article is just so simple and small so I'll be working on adding more information and moving around some of that information to make it more clear. I'll also be focusing on the sources a lot.

Breeding
Galápagos penguins are a monogamous species, each pair mating for life. There are fewer than 1,000 breeding pairs of Galápagos penguins in the world. After completing courtship, with rituals including bill dueling, flipper patting, and mutual preening, the pair will build and maintain a nest. Most nests are seen between May and July because both quantity of food and climate conditions are typically most optimal. However, breeding can occur year-round due to unpredictable weather patterns. The nests are made within 50 meters (160 ft) of the water on the shore. Adults stay near the breeding area during the year with their mate. It lays one or two eggs in places such as caves and crevices, protected from direct sunlight, which can cause the eggs to overheat. Incubation takes 38–40 days, with both parents incubating. One parent will always stay with the eggs or young chicks while the other may be absent for several days to feed. A pair usually rears only one chick, but if conditions are optimal, they can produce up to three clutches in a year. Galápagos penguins will molt before they breed, and are the only penguins to do this twice a year. Molting takes up to 15 days to complete. They do this for their own safety, as food availability in the Galápagos is typically unpredictable. If there is not enough food available, they may abandon the nest.

It takes about 60-65 days for the chicks to become independent. Newly hatched chicks have downy feathers that do not become waterproof until the chicks grow into juveniles. The juvenile plumage, attained by thirty days after a chick hatches, is dark brown or gray above and white below. These feathers are mainly needed to protect the chicks from the strong sun rather than keep them warm.

Predators and threats
Galápagos penguins have a lifespan ranging from 15 to 20 years, but because of environmental factors and predation, their life expectancy is reduced. They are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Endangered, and as of 2018 there are around 1,200 mature penguins left. It is currently the rarest penguin species (a status often falsely attributed to the yellow-eyed penguin). Population levels are influenced by the effects of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which reduces the availability of shoaling fish due to increased water temperatures, leading to low reproduction or starvation. The population underwent an alarming decline of around 60% in the 1980s and 1990s due to El Niño events, but is slowly recovering.

Because of the Galápagos penguin's small size, it has many predators. On Isabela Island, humans may be contributing to the decline of this species due to introduced cats, dogs, and rats which attack penguins and destroy their nests. Other threats on land include crabs, snakes, rice rats, Galapagos hawks, and short-eared owls. While in the water, predators include sharks, fur seals, and sea lions. They also face the hazards of unreliable food resources and volcanic activity. Illegal fishing activity may interrupt the penguins’ nesting, and they are often caught in fishing nets by mistake. Other factors include oil pollution, depletion of fish stocks, and avian malaria.

(Lead)
The Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is a penguin endemic to the Galápagos Islands. It is the only penguin found north of the equator. Most inhabit Fernandina Island and the west coast of Isabela Island. The cool waters of the Humboldt and Cromwell Currents allow it to survive despite the tropical latitude. The Galápagos penguin is one of the banded penguins, the other species of which live mostly on the coasts of Africa and mainland South America. It is one of the smallest species of penguin in the world. Because of their warm environment, Galápagos penguins have developed techniques to stay cool. The feathers on their back, flippers, and head are black, and they have a white belly and a stripe looping from their eyes down to their neck and chin. Each penguin keeps only one mate, and breeds year-round. Their nests are typically in caves and crevices as protection against predators and the harsh environment. The Galápagos penguin has a lifespan of about 15 to 20 years, but due to predation, life expectancy in the wild could be significantly reduced.

Description
The average Galápagos penguin is between 49 and 50 centimeters (19-20 in) tall and weighs around 2.5 to 4.5 kilograms (5.5-8.8 lb). It is the second smallest species of penguin, after the little penguin. Females are usually smaller than males. Galápagos penguins have a black head with a white border running from behind the eye, around the black ear coverts and chin, to join on the throat. The top of the beaks are black and fade into pink on the bottom. They have two black bands across the breast that connect to the back, the lower band extending down the flanks to the thigh. Juveniles differ in having a wholly dark head, grayer on side and chin, and no breast band.

Refrences