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?
a. the sea ice melts later in the season
b. the sea ice freezes earlier in the winter, shifting breeding schedule
c. the chicks grow faster because of the warming temperature
d. the sea ice melts before the chicks are ready to swim
The correct answer is: a. the sea ice melts later in the season
A warming climate would likely result in the sea ice melting later in the season, potentially affecting the timing of when the penguins breed and raise their chicks. This could result in challenges for the penguins in terms of food availability, hunting, and overall survivability.