Emperor Penguins of Antarctica are Going to Extinct
Utkarsh Classes
Last Updated
05-09-2023
Environment
3 min read
According to study due to the dramatic loss of sea ice, several colonies of Emperor Penguins in Antarctica face "quasi-extinction" in the decades to come.
The study found that emperor penguin colonies saw unprecedented and "catastrophic" breeding failure in a part of Antarctica where there was total sea ice loss in 2022. The discovery supports predictions that over 90% of emperor penguin colonies will be "quasi-extinct" by the end of the century, based on current global warming trends.
What does quasi-extinction mean?
- According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, quasi-extinction means that a "population essentially is still in existence, but reproductively speaking, there’s no way in the world it can increase.”
- Thus, for emperor penguins, this means that even if individuals are alive, the population is sufficiently low that it can’t recover and will ultimately become extinct.
- Loss of sea ice imperils penguin chicks
- The study found that last year, no chicks survived from four of the five known emperor penguin colonies in the central and eastern Bellingshausen Sea, which is west of the Antarctic Peninsula where there was a 100% loss of sea ice in November 2022.
About Emperor Penguins
- Emperors are the largest of all penguins—an average bird stands some 45 inches tall. These flightless animals live on the Antarctic ice and in the frigid surrounding waters.
- Emperor penguins hatch their eggs and raise their chicks on sea ice. If the sea ice breaks up under them, the young chicks will drown or freeze to death.
- Penguins employ physiological adaptations and cooperative behaviors in order to deal with an incredibly harsh environment, where wind chills can reach -76°F.
Leave a Review
Today's Article
Tags
Agreements and MoU
Agriculture
Place in News
Banking and Finance
Bill and Act
Economy
Defence
Person in News
Energy
International news
Transport
Industry
Visits
Science and Technology
Space
Summit and Conference
Uttar Pradesh
Science
Art and Culture
Award and Honour
Government Scheme
Death
Report
Environment
Festival
Rajasthan
Important Day
Important Days
Science and Technology
State news
Union Budget
App
Portal
Appointment
Banking
International Organisations
High Court
Supreme Court
Sport
Art & Culture
Dance
Haryana
Himachal Pradesh
Tribe
Bihar
Committee and Commission
Tourism
Festivals
Uttrakhand
Government Initiative
Banking & Finance
Loan and Grant
Index
Jharkhand
Bilateral Relations
Chhattisgarh
law and act
Body
Election
Books and Author
Books and Authors
Madhya Pradesh
Infrastructure
Exercise
Military exercise
Export
Education
Health and Disease
Supreme Court
Meeting
Law & Order
Travel & Transport
Ranking
Research
