Climate change and the loss of sea ice is likely to cause populations of emperor penguins to decrease by more than 50 per cent by the end of the century
Dr Jane Younger, Prize Fellow at the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath studies the evolution of penguins and their ability to adapt to climate change.
She said: “Emperor penguins live only in Antarctica and are the only warm blooded animal to breed during the Antarctic winter, so they have a uniquely extreme lifestyle.
“These penguins are completely dependent on the sea ice: they lay their egg there, protect it on the sea ice and raise the chick until it’s old enough to find food for itself at sea.
“Because the penguins rely so heavily on the sea ice for breeding and feeding, they are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Our study predicts they could decline by over 50 per cent over the next 80 years.”
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