Climate change: Emperor penguins at risk of extinction
The total population of Emperor penguins of Antarctica can reduce about one-third by the end of the century due to melting of the ice caps, putting the species at risk of extinction, a new study reveals."The population is decreasing. Unless something changes to prevent this, the population goes extinct, "said Hal Caswell, a researcher at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and one of the study authors, quotes the Guardian.As a top predator in the Antarctic, the greatest threat to the survival of the emperor penguins stems from the lack of territory, as global warming melts the ice, which is essential to the species. The loss of sea ice reduces the amount of krill, small shrimp-like crustaceans that are the main source of food for the penguins.Changes in the nearby ice of Antarctica can, in the short term, boost the increase of some populations of penguins. The ice it gives off the Mainland is increasing, which offers more territory to animals. However, by 2100 the Emperor Penguin colonies 45 known should decrease due to the loss of territory, when global warming does not preserve the icebergs that slough off the continent.Foto:  Christopher.Michel / Creative Commons
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