Penguins and global warming
It seems obvious that penguins will be in trouble if global warming continues. If you like it cold and icy then a hotter planet is not going to work in your favour.
A new report from environmental group WWF highlights the problems the dinner-jacketed birds face. “As the ice melts, these icons of the Antarctic will have to face an extremely tough battle to survive,” says Emily Lewis-Brown, Marine and Climate Change Officer at WWF-UK (press release).
WWF says overfishing and a reduction in sea ice is putting the Emperor, Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adélie penguins under pressure. The report is actually just a two page document timed to coincide with Bali and it has long been known that penguins have, in the words of 2001 paper published in Nature (subscription required), “potential high susceptibility to climate change”.
No new science then, still it’s a good time and a good peg, and it is getting coverage, along with two men dressed as penguins in Bali who danced around to the song “Hot, Hot, Hot”.
Penguins now threatened by global warming
Penguin colonies in decline because of global warming
The last emperor? Penguin numbers plunge
Penguins face global warming threat
WWF: Climate warming threatens Antarctica Penguins
Image: Adelie penguin from a photo by Michael Van Woert, NOAA NESDIS, ORA
Cross-posted from Daniel Cressey on The Great Beyond
Comments
"No new science then..."
So, the only thing new is that this is a WWF press release. Well, I guess it worked.
Posted by: Nick | December 12, 2007 05:15 PM
Who is the WWF? Is that not the world wresteling federation?
Most penguins live in Antartica. Most of Antartica is actually getting cooler. No doubt that global warming is very debated. I, however, have never heard that man is causing global cooling. For this - all I can say is that I hope that the people that believe this is natural are not wrong. But if man is causing at least part of the problem then why not do all we can. One thing not in dispute is that we cannot continue to use non-renewable sources on energy forever.
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Posted by: Reggie Rasmussen | December 15, 2007 02:56 AM
GLOBAL WARMING NEEDS TO STOP NOW! PEOLPE NEED TO BE AWARE AND START TAKING PART!!!
Posted by: Alexis | January 16, 2008 05:46 PM
I can't believe all the poeple that think global warming isn't real. i mean look at what is happening in the world and you see all that it does. poeple can be so blind sometimes.
Posted by: sammy | May 12, 2008 05:17 PM