Four out of five emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica’s Bellingshausen Sea region very likely lost their chicks late last year because of disappearing sea ice underneath their breeding grounds, according to a new study.
Parts of this coastal region had lost all of their sea ice by November, which was probably before penguin chicks had grown waterproof adult feathers and learned to swim.
It’s the first time scientists have seen a widespread failure across multiple penguin colonies in a region, researchers said.
“At the moment, we’re not sure if this is just a blip,” said Norman Ratcliffe, a seabird ecologist with the British Antarctic Survey and one of the authors of the new study.
“But if this becomes a consistent phenomena in the longer term, clearly it’s going to have repercussions for the species.”
Persons:
“, we’re, ”, Norman Ratcliffe
Organizations:
British Antarctic Survey
Locations:
Antarctica’s Bellingshausen