Aug. 25 (UPI) — Recent research conducted by the British Antarctic Survey suggests that thousands of emperor penguin chicks may have perished due to exceptionally low levels of sea ice in 2022.
The findings have been published in the renowned scientific journal Communications Earth and Environment.
According to the lead researcher, Peter Fretwell, it is estimated that up to 7,000 chicks may have succumbed to the loss of sea ice. Unlike adult emperor penguins, young chicks lack the feather structure needed for easy navigation and floating in water.
“By the beginning of December, the Antarctic Sea extent was aligned with the record low established in 2021. The central and eastern Bellingshausen Sea region, situated west of the Antarctic Peninsula, experienced the most significant negative anomaly of this diminished extent, with some areas witnessing a complete loss of sea ice concentration in November,” the report stated.
Using satellite data, researchers were able to observe emperor penguin colonies due to the abundance of guano (excrement). The employed data helped assess the scale of penguin loss.
“By utilizing Sentinel2 satellite imagery, we offer evidence of regional breeding failure among emperor penguin colonies due to the depletion of sea ice. With the exception of one breeding site, all other sites experienced a complete breeding failure after the disintegration of sea ice prior to the onset of the fledging period for the 2022 breeding season,” the researchers noted.
As outlined in the report, emperor penguins heavily rely on solid ice for their breeding grounds. Typically, mating occurs between March and April, with eggs being laid between May and June. The incubation period for emperor penguin chicks generally spans approximately two months.
The researchers warned that “if current warming rates persist, over 90% of emperor penguin colonies may face quasi-extinction by the end of this century.”
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