Emperor Penguins Face Threat of Extinction As 99% Could End Up Wiped Out by 2100 if Greenhouse Gas Emissions Persistently Rise, Study Reveals

According to a new study, emperor penguins are threatened with extinction if greenhouse gas emissions keep rising at present levels.

Emperor Penguins At Risk

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) researchers warn that 99% of these birds could end up eradicated by 2100 if the conditions of greenhouse gas emissions persist. Dr. Peter Fretwell, a geographic information officer of the BAS, explains that as the continent gets warm, ice breaks out earlier, resulting in a higher mortality of chicks.

As fewer chicks survive in several colonies, editing sites may become untenable, and the entire population may see a plumber time.

These penguins raise and breed their young on land-fast sea ice, which is stably and firmly linked to the shore. If the ice breaks too early, the chicks enter the sea before they grow fledging or waterproof feathers. This could result in high or even total mortality of the chicks.

Declining Populations of Emperor Penguins

As part of the "A 6-year assessment of low sea-ice impacts on emperor penguins" study, the scientists examined the number of Emperor penguins across Antarctica's remaining 66 colonies. The analysis showed that in 2023, Antarctica's record low sea ice levels led to breeding failure among 14 of these colonies.

Present predictions show that if greenhouse gas emissions persist at their current rate, the Emperor penguin population could decline by up to 99% by the end of the century.

Though the numbers for 2022 are pretty concerning, they are a bit better compared to 2022 levels. This year, low sea ice levels affected 19 colonies (nearly 30%). In 2022, several badly affected colonies exhibited adaptations, as some sought more stable ice while others bred on ice shelves or icebergs.

Dr. Fretwell notes that witnessing adaptations in the colonies that were affected the worst offers hope that the birds are capable of adapting to their changing environment and that they could seek to find more stable ice. It also appears that the overall concentration levels of sea ice do not immediately mean early and fast ice breakup at colonies. Subtle factors, such as the persistence of the La Niña and El Niño cycles, play a crucial role.

Nevertheless, Dr. Fretwell notes that this is a temporary solution, as they are limited to the number of adaptations they can pull off. There are also only a few places that they can explore.

Dr. Fretwell says that humans should adapt by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that drive ice melt to mitigate the primary threat that the species faces.

The officer also notes that if one gets several bad years, it will begin to drive the population down as time passes.

Check out more news and information on Environment & Climate in Science Times.