Antarctic marine life at anchorable depths. (Supplied: Matthew Mulrennan/Kolossal)
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1h ago 1 hours ago Mon 9 Jun 2025 at 4:01am
Undisturbed life at anchorable depths showing Antarctic sun stars, giant Antarctic octopus, huge sea spiders, and unique Antarctic fish. Supplied: Matt Mulrennan/Kolossal
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ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Emperor penguin populations shrink by almost a quarter, researchers say
Emperor penguin populations in Antarctica have shrunk by almost a quarter as global warming melts their icy habitat, researchers say. The estimated population of 16 penguin colonies — visible in satellite photos taken between 2009 and 2024 – had declined by 22 per cent. The losses were around 50 per cent worse than even the most pessimistic estimate of current population, said Peter Fretwell, who tracks wildlife from space at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). It's unclear whether this drop is seen across the continent, scientists said. Researchers know that climate change is driving the losses but the speed of the declines is a particular cause for alarm. The study compares with an earlier estimate of a nearly 10 per cent reduction across Antarctica as a whole between 2009 and 2018. Warming is thinning and destabilising the ice under the penguins' feet in their breeding grounds. In recent years, some colonies have lost all their chicks because the ice has given way beneath them, plunging hatchlings into the sea before they were old enough to cope with the freezing ocean. Mr Fretwell said the new research suggests penguin numbers have been declining since the monitoring began in 2009. He said warming is also driving other challenges for the penguins, such as higher rainfall or increasing encroachment from predators. "Emperor penguins are probably the most clear-cut example of where climate change is really showing its effect," Fretwell told AFP. "There's no fishing. There's no habitat destruction. There's no pollution which is causing their populations to decline. "It's just the temperatures in the ice on which they breed and live, and that's really climate change." Emperor penguins, number about a quarter of a million breeding pairs, all in Antarctica, according to a 2020 study. A baby emperor penguin emerges from an egg kept warm in winter by a male, while the female in a breeding pair embarks on a two-month fishing expedition. When she returns to the colony, she feeds the hatchling by regurgitating and then both parents take turns to forage. To survive on their own, chicks must develop waterproof feathers, a process that typically starts in mid-December. The new research uses satellite imagery during the months of October and November, before the region is plunged into winter darkness. Mr Fretwell said there is hope that the penguins may go further south to colder regions in the future but added that it is not clear "how long they're going to last out there". Interactive story: A stutter in Earth's icy heartbeat has 'gravely concerned' scientists searching for answers. Computer models have projected that the species will be near extinction by the end of the century if humans do not slash their planet-heating emissions. The latest study suggests the picture could be even worse. "We may have to rethink those models now with this new data," said Mr Fretwell. But he stressed there was still time to reduce the threat to the penguins. "We've got this really depressing picture of climate change and falling populations even faster than we thought but it's not too late," he said. "We're probably going to lose a lot of emperor penguins along the way but if people do change, and if we do reduce or turn around our climate emissions, then then we will save the emperor penguin."
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Emperor penguin populations declining faster than expected
Emperor penguin populations in Antarctica have shrunk by almost a quarter as global warming transforms their icy habitat, according to new research on Tuesday that warned the losses were far worse than previously imagined. Scientists monitoring the world's largest penguin species used satellites to assess sixteen colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea and Bellingshausen Sea, representing nearly a third of the global emperor penguin population. What they found was "probably about 50-percent worse" than even the most pessimistic estimate of current populations using computer modelling, said Peter Fretwell, who tracks wildlife from space at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Researchers know that climate change is driving the losses but the speed of the declines is a particular cause for alarm. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications: Earth & Environment, found that numbers declined 22 percent in the 15 years to 2024 for the colonies monitored. This compares with an earlier estimate of a 9.5-percent reduction across Antarctica as a whole between 2009 and 2018. Warming is thinning and destabilising the ice under the penguins' feet in their breeding grounds. In recent years some colonies have lost all their chicks because the ice has given way beneath them, plunging hatchlings into the sea before they were old enough to cope with the freezing ocean. Fretwell said the new research suggests penguin numbers have been declining since the monitoring began in 2009. That is even before global warming was having a major impact on the sea ice, which forms over open water adjacent to land in the region. But he said the culprit is still likely to be climate change, with warming driving other challenges for the penguins, such as higher rainfall or increasing encroachment from predators. "Emperor penguins are probably the most clear-cut example of where climate change is really showing its effect," said Fretwell. "There's no fishing. There's no habitat destruction. There's no pollution which is causing their populations to decline. "It's just the temperatures in the ice on which they breed and live, and that's really climate change." - 'Worrying result" - Emperor penguins, aka Aptenodytes forsteri, number about a quarter of a million breeding pairs, all in Antarctica, according to a 2020 study. A baby emperor penguin emerges from an egg kept warm in winter by a male, while the female in a breeding pair embarks on a two-month fishing expedition. When she returns to the colony, she feeds the hatchling by regurgitating. To survive on their own, chicks must develop waterproof feathers, a process that typically starts in mid-December. Fretwell said there is hope that the penguins may go further south in the future but added that it is not clear "how long they're going to last out there". Computer models have projected that the species will be near extinction by the end of the century if humans do not slash their planet-heating emissions. The latest study suggests the picture could be even worse. "We may have to rethink those models now with this new data," said Fretwell. "We really do need to look at the rest of the population to see if this worrying result transfers around the continent," he added. But he stressed there was still time to reduce the threat to the penguins. "We've got this really depressing picture of climate change and falling populations even faster than we thought but it's not too late," he said. We're probably going to lose a lot of emperor penguins along the way but if people do change, and if we do reduce or turn around our climate emissions, then then we will save the emperor penguin."
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Warning issued as Irukandji jellyfish sting two swimmers in northern WA
Swimmers in northern Western Australia have been being urged to take precautions after two people were stung by Irukandj jellyfish on Monday. The sting of the jellyfish can cause severe pain, nausea and breathing difficulties. Two people were admitted to hospital after swimming in the Ningaloo Marine Park. They have since been discharged. Griffith University PhD candidate Jess Strickland said two types of Irukandji were found in the Ningaloo region. "Keesingia gigas is the world's largest species of Irukandji and they can get to over 50 centimetres long," she said. "They sort of look like a giant rocket-ship. "The more common species we get is called Mallo bella. "It's a lot smaller — it's your typical sort of Irukandji jellyfish shape, so a small bell about the size of the tip of your thumb, and four tentacles, one coming off each corner." Ms Strickland said encounters were most likely during the dry season. "They're most commonly sighted from March onwards and we're seeing them through into August occasionally," she said. Ms Strickland said the best way to prevent stings was by wearing clothing that covered as much of the skin as possible, such as a lycra swimsuit. "They don't actually have a brain, so they're not consciously choosing to sting someone," she said. "It's a trigger that happens automatically when the jellyfish would brush up against someone." Ms Strickland said Irukandji delivered venom via a "sort of microscopic, harpoon-like structure". "People are at risk of being stung if bare skin brushes up against them," she said. A Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions spokesperson urged visitors to "remain vigilant while enjoying the marine park." "Wearing stinger suits or rash shirts can help reduce the risk of being stung," they said. The spokesperson said any sightings should be reported immediately to Parks and Wildlife authorities. The WA Country Health Service and WA Department of Health declined to comment.
