The penguins of the southern hemisphere not only struggle against heat or melting ice.
An international study reveals that they are also being attacked by a combination of extreme climatic phenomena that act simultaneously.
Furthermore, the analysis urges science to change its approach if it wants to prevent their extinction.
The dangers threatening the hemisphere’s penguins
For years, scientists have analyzed separately the effects of heat, rain, or winds on ecosystems. But reality is more complex.
A team led by the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), in collaboration with the Laboratoire LOCEAN-IPSL and Phillip Island Nature Parks, demonstrated that what really threatens the southern hemisphere’s penguins is the sum of all these events.
The research, published in Global Change Biology, analyzed the habitats of the 18 species of penguins in the southern hemisphere.
The results show that marine heatwaves, torrential rains, extreme winds, and droughts do not act in isolation, but rather reinforce each other.
“The extreme climatic phenomena are unevenly distributed, and now we know which regions pose the greatest risks for penguins,” explains Camila Artana, a researcher at LOCEAN-IPSL.
The most vulnerable penguin species are already suffering the impact
The study also identified the most affected species:
- the African penguin;
- the Snares penguin;
- the emperor penguin;
- the Adélie penguin;
- the Galápagos penguin
These populations are already experiencing combined impacts affecting their reproduction, feeding, and adaptability.
“The penguins’ habitat is not affected by a single extreme event, but by the interaction of many,” states Miriam Gimeno, from ICM-CSIC and lead author of the study.
Due to this, the researchers propose a conservation approach based on adaptive management.
What does this mean? Recognizing that the climate is constantly changing and that policies must be updated at the same pace.
The model is structured in three steps:
- identify priority areas where exposure to extreme phenomena is high or rapidly increasing;
- integrate local human factors such as fishing, tourism, or coastal development that amplify the effects of climate; and
- apply a flexible management capable of readjusting actions as new data emerges.
Among the concrete measures, the reinforcement of fishing regulations, the protection of breeding areas, and the restoration of coastal habitats stand out.
The window of action to care for penguins is closing
“We identified the most threatened species and regions, but also the opportunities to intervene immediately,” explains Andre Chiaradia, from Phillip Island Nature Parks.
“Proactive management, with decisions based on data and territory, is essential to maintain the biodiversity of the southern hemisphere,” he adds.
The authors warn that delays in political and scientific action could turn the current threat into a point of no return.
The study’s conclusions go beyond penguins: understanding the combined effects of extreme climate will be crucial to protect other marine animals, from sea lions to coastal birds.
Penguins are living indicators of ocean health. Their decline reflects the planet’s imbalance and the urgency to act.
