Penguin Population in Antarctica Threatened by Climate Change

Northeast Today , Saturday, July 02, 2016
Correspondent : Climate Change
Penguin populations in Antartica are in danger of disappearing in large numbers due to climate change, according to scientists.

A new study suggests that Adélie penguin colonies, which are only found on the Antarctic ice shelves, could see their populations reduce by up to two-thirds by the end of the century, writes The Independent. Warming conditions caused by climate change have led to an environment that is inhospitable to nesting penguins rearing chicks, the study authors claim.

Penguins are unable to flourish in areas where the temperatures are too cold, but the species also cannot cope with extreme warmth. “It is only in recent decades that we know Adélie penguins population declines are associated with warming, which suggests that many regions of Antarctica have warmed too much and that further warming is no longer positive for the species,” lead author Dr Megan Cimino, said in a press release.

Scientists tracking colonies of Adélie penguins in the West Antarctic Peninsula, one of the fastest warming regions on Earth, have noted declining numbers in the area. According to Dr Cimino, sea surfaces in the West Antarctic Peninsula region have had the greatest number of years with higher than normal temperatures – a phenomenon known as “novel climate”. During the same period, penguin populations in the region have declined by up to 80 percent.

“These two things seem to be happening in the WAP at a higher rate than in other areas during the same time period,” Dr Cimino said in a press release. Climate models have forecast that this region will continue along this trend – experiencing higher rates of the novel climate this century, which will adversely affect penguin numbers in the area.

The researchers used satellite to observe penguin colonies, as well as global climate model projections to inform their study. Using this data, they found that 30 percent of Adélie penguin colonies could be gone by 2060 – a figure that could rise to 60 percent by the end of the century.

However, the research also found that in Antarctic regions where the effects of climate change are currently minor, scientists have noted that penguin numbers are “steady or increasing”. Locations such as these will likely become home to more and more of these penguins as populations shift to an environment that is more hospitable. These are known as refugium, or a place where a population that was once widespread now exists in isolation. One example of this includes a peninsula in the East Antarctic known as Cape Adare, where climate change has been less intense.

“The Cape Adare region of the Ross Sea is home to the earliest known penguin occupation and has the largest known Adélie penguin rookery in the world,” Dr Cimino said in a statement. “Though the climate there is expected to warm a bit, it looks like it could be a refugium in the future, and if you look back over geologic time it was likely one in the past,” she added.

Scientists believe that Adélie penguin colonies will move south during the next century coming 100 years, as climate change patterns continue to shift. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

 
SOURCE : http://www.northeasttoday.in/penguin-population-in-antarctica-threatened-by-climate-change/
 


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