Emperor penguins breed on shelves of sea ice in the winter. By spring, the chicks have developed waterproof plumage and are ready to swim in the cold ocean waters. What effect might a warming climate have on the penguins?
Responses
The sea ice melts later in the season, and the penguins have to travel farther to find food.
The sea ice melts before the chicks are ready to swim.
The penguins may have to adapt to new breeding locations or strategies to accommodate the changing ice conditions.
Increased temperature may also have an impact on the availability of food sources for the penguins, which could affect their overall population.