Climate Change To Devastate Or Destroy Many Penguin Colonies

ScienceDaily (Oct. 12, 2008) — Half to three-quarters of major Antarctic penguin colonies face decline or disappearance if global temperatures are allowed to climb by more than 2°C. A new WWF report – 2°C is Too Much – shows that the colonies of 50 per cent of the iconic emperor penguins and 75 per cent of the Adélie penguins are under threat. Climate change models forecast that a 2°C temperature rise above pre-industrial level could be a reality in less than 40 years, producing a strong reduction in the sea ice cover of the Southern Ocean which is an essential nesting and feeding ground for Emperor and Adélie penguins. A reduction in the sea ice is also likely to have a knock-on effect on the abundance of krill, which is a vital food source for penguins. Juan Casavelos, WWF Antarctica Climate Change Coordinator said:... [read full story]