Penguins are suffering from climate change
Recent investigations reveal that the Penguins are in danger due to extreme environmental conditions linked to climate change. The studies highlight the difficulties that the colonies of these animals face in dealing with the effects of global warming, notably in Argentina and in Antarctica. In both places the penguins face an uncertain future.Climate change is killing the penguin chicks in the world's largest colony of Magellanic penguins at Punta Tombo, Argentina, by increasing the number of heat waves and storms that lead to floods, indicate investigators.The young of this species of Penguin are protected only by a layer of feathers and, when the colonies are affected by storms, are agonizing and eventually die, since parents have no capacity to save. When the colony is hit by heatwaves that still do not have waterproof feathers prevent them cooling off in the sea and end up choking with heat.Already on Ross Island in Antarctica, it is extremely difficult to Adelie penguins feeding since the melting of the ice caps creates giant icebergs, which hinders the hunt for fish.According to Ginger Rebstock, a researcher at the University of Washington, in the United States, who participated in a study that monitored an Argentine colony 400 thousand penguins during 27 years, "are expected in years in which almost no penguin chicks will survive if changes give rise to larger and more frequent storms during vulnerable periods of breeding season," quotes the Guardian.During the study period, approximately 65% of the babies died and 40% starved. It is estimated that climate change will be responsible for the deaths of 7% of the penguin chicks annually, but in recent years this has been the most common cause of death. In a year of study, 43% of deaths were attributed to climate change and another about 50%.Factors such as hunger and time should interact more closely as the climate changes, the Cubs already hungry and weaker are more vulnerable to extreme weather phenomena.Foto: wwarby / Creative Commons
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