Investigation 2: Penguin Populations

Now it is time to investigate the breeding pairs of penguins living in one location over time.  Let us explore a data set that looks at penguin populations (in breeding pairs) from 1979 to 2016. 

There are a few ways we can explore the data. One way is to explore it in an online data tool called – Common Online Data Analysis Platform (CODAP) for short. It is a free online tool that helps us create graphs to visualize data. The other is to explore our interactive data visualization. Choose one or both options below.

1. Explore the data with CODAP

Interact with the penguin dataset in the CODAP viewer.

Download the checklist version of the CODAP guide.

Download the full booklet version of the CODAP guide.

Once you create a graph using CODAP take a screen grab image of it and save it or print it.

Now that you have created your graph it is time to analyze it. All three penguin species should be represented on the graph. Colors may vary but the trends should look like the graph below. If your graph is different, try to start over and remake the graph. 

2. Explore the Data Story

If you were unable to use CODAP do not worry! You can use the interactive graphing tool below to explore the numbers of penguin breeding pairs in the Palmer Research Station area of the Western Antarctica Peninsula from 1990 – 2016. Even if you did complete CODAP, still go through the data story below to get a better understanding of the data. It is helpful to look at data many ways!