Conservation biologist at the University of Washington, Dee Boersma says, "Mounting evidence points to climate change as the greatest threat to penguins, especially those species breeding in the Antarctic region."Global warming has a big impact on the food supply for penguins, therefore making it difficult for breeding colonies to feed their young. Scientists say that the warming of the ocean decreases the oxygen level of the "marine-invertebrate prey to reproduce."
10 of the 17 penguin species in the world are categorized as endangered.
Rockhopper penguins living in New Zealand have decreased in number from about 1.6 million to 100,000 over a forty year period. Between 1971 to 2003, winter temperatures in Antarctica had increased 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit. According to French scientists, "It was recorded that penguins and other seabirds arrived an average of nine days later to set up territories, court, and lay eggs than in 1950." Antarctica is surrounded by 10 feet of ice, covering 7 million square miles. In the summer, it melts to about 1.5 million square miles. However, during the winter, the krill (penguin food) feed on microscopic algae under the ice. If the krill don't eat, the sea birds can't eat, and it becomes a vicious cycle.
Also, if penguins have to swim out too far to find a solid refuge that will hold up for the molting season, they will die at sea. There was a big storm in September 2006, blowing all the ice far out to sea. Emperor chicks went with it, but were not able to survive without feathers.
This is very disheartening to hear about. I am going to research what can be done to help them. It's so unfortunate that they are suffering because of global warming, and I want to do something to help prevent it.
Line, Les. (2007). The Shrinking World of Penguins. National Wildlife, 45 (5).Retrieved March 18, 2008, from Academic Search Premier.
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