Antarctic Penguins At Risk

A pair of researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have participated in a paper to that found that melting sea ice is putting at least part of the emperor penguin population at risk.

Penguins, Noah, iron all receive WHOI investigation

By James Kinsella

Emperor penguins at serious risk. A legendary flood that was less than advertised. Iron's key role in locking carbon dioxide into the ocean.

Founded in 1930, WHOI is dedicated to research and higher education at the frontiers of ocean science. The organization is headquartered in Woods Hole, from which its scientists and vessels set out to do research around the world.

All are the subject of research conducted by scientists associated with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and recently published.The research finds that the loss of sea ice through global warming may place some emperor penguins in danger of extinction.

Founded in 1930, WHOI is dedicated to research and higher education at the frontiers of ocean science. The organization is headquartered in Woods Hole, from which its scientists and vessels set out to do research around the world.

Penguins

The 2005 movie "March of the Penguins," an endearing and poignant look at the epic yet fragile life cycle of emperor penguins, popularized the species around the world.

But a trend has emerged that could spell serious trouble for the species in at least part of its geographic range.

Five researchers, including WHOI biologists Stephanie Jenouvrier and Hal Caswell, examined the situation in a paper published Jan. 26 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

The paper uses mathematical models to predict the effect on penguins of climate change and the resulting loss of sea ice.

Melting ice threatens colony

Their research shows that if climate change continues to melt sea ice at the rates published in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the median population size of a large emperor penguin colony in Terre Adelie, Antarctica, likely will shrink from its present size of 3,000 to only 400 breeding pairs by the end of the century.

The researchers further calculate that the probability of a drastic decline (by 95 percent or more) is at least 40 percent and perhaps as much as 80 percent.

Another question is whether the penguins might adapt to changing conditions, perhaps by changing the timing of their breeding cycle. However, this does not seem to be happening.

Such a decline, according to the researchers, would put that population at serious risk of extinction.

Caswell said while the researchers focused on Terre Adelie, given the excellent data available for the region, their findings may have implications for the species throughout the Antarctic.

Yet another question, Jenouvrier said, is whether the penguins might adapt to changing conditions, perhaps by changing the timing of their breeding cycle. However, this does not seem to be happening.

"Unlike some other Antarctic bird species that have altered their life cycles, penguins don't catch on so quickly," she said. "They are long-lived organisms, so they adapt slowly. This is a problem because the climate is changing very fast."

Story and pic courtesy of Cape Cod Today @
http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/2009/02/15/title-197?blog=53