Latest news with #AdéliePenguins
CBC
30-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Reports on the homosexual behaviour of penguins in Antarctica were hidden for over 100 years
Social Sharing By Carolyn Whittaker, producer of Animal Pride For generations, scientists have been documenting same-sex pairings, non-reproductive copulation and complex gender dynamics in everything from bonobos to butterflies. But due to the longstanding tendency to interpret animal behaviour through a heteronormative lens, researchers have often failed to acknowledge the full spectrum of sexual and social diversity in the natural world. They've even buried reports that reveal it. Animal Pride, a documentary from The Nature of Things, brings these findings into the spotlight. "We've all heard the rhetoric that being queer isn't natural," says naturalist and presenter Connel Bradwell in the film. "This is nature's coming-out story." 'Not for Publication': Observations of homosexual behaviour in Adélie penguins One example of this erasure occurred in the early 20th century following Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic Expedition (1910–1913). George Murray Levick, a British photographer, surgeon and zoologist, had documented the homosexual behaviour of Adélie penguins, as well as various other sexual interactions that would have shocked Victorian sensibilities. His field notes described "hooligan" male penguins engaging in same-sex couplings and other behaviour that he considered "depraved" at the time. Penguin's sex lives 'not for publication' 21 hours ago Duration 2:05 Levick's potentially scandalous research on the penguins' sex lives was never published in full and most of his observations were eventually buried in the archives of London's Natural History Museum for decades. His complete account only came to light in 2012, when it was rediscovered by curator Douglas Russell and finally shared with the public. Levick's story isn't unique, according to Canadian biologist and author of Wild Sex Carin Bondar. "Biologists have known about homosexuality in the animal kingdom since we started looking at animals. A lot of this information has been hidden," she says in the documentary. "Humans are definitely not the only species to exhibit homosexuality, but we are the only species to exhibit homophobia." "We are the only species to exhibit homophobia" 22 hours ago Duration 3:31 Animal Pride reveals the queer lives of animals that have long been overshadowed by cultural biases. In the documentary, Bradwell digs into the wide variety of behaviours across species, from same-sex albatross pairs that raise chicks together, to dolphins that use same-sex copulation for social bonding. By shedding light on the diversity of the natural world, the film challenges the long-held assumption that reproductive sex is the only biologically relevant form of sexual behaviour — and underscores the importance of acknowledging this diversity. "If we keep looking at things from just one viewpoint, we are always going to keep seeing the same thing," says Ignacio Martínez, a biologist known for his work with penguins. "Right now is the turning point for the conservation or loss of so many species. And we need the broadest picture of their lives as clearly as possible."
The Independent
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Penguin poop is creating more clouds. Here's how
There is no shortage of penguin poop in Antarctica. In fact, you can see it from space, if you know where to look. Researchers often use satellite observations to study Adélie penguin populations and changes in their diet. The most widespread penguin species, there are currently an estimated 10 million Adélie penguins, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare. The penguins themselves are too small to see from above, but their excrement is not. Also known as guano, the old bird poop builds up on rocky and icy surfaces over time. It can be seen in shades of white, red, and pink. The color that is expelled depends on what these flightless birds eat. With a krill diet, for example, turns it out pinker. Whereas, a largely fishy diet turns their poop whiter. But, the color isn't the only magic associated with Adélie penguin poop. Researchers say that ammonia released from the guano could help to protect them from the increasingly dangerous effects of human-caused climate change. The sea ice Adélie penguins rely on to survive is dwindling, as it is increasingly threatened by climate change. However, ammonia released from their poop may be contributing to increased regional cloud formation that halts ice loss and protects their habitat. 'There are connections between things that happen on our natural planet that we just don't necessarily expect,' Matthew Boyer, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Helsinki, told The Washington Post. 'And this is one of them.' Boyer was the lead author of the related research, which was recently published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. Ammonia, which is a naturally occurring chemical compound often used in disinfecting products, can ramp up cloud formation when it chemically interacts with gases that contain the smelly element sulphur. This reaction increases the creation of particles in the air that give water vapor — water in its gaseous form — a surface to condense upon: changing it into a liquid. That's how clouds are formed. Ammonia clouds have been found on Jupiter, and over Southeast Asia. The resulting clouds can serve as insulating layers in the atmosphere, as well as help to reduce surface temperatures and keep the surrounding sea ice from melting. Last year, the sea ice extent in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica was the second smallest on record. This March saw Antarctic sea ice plunge, as well. The sea ice, which is more reflective than water, plays a significant role in keeping polar regions cool. 'We can hypothesize that there will be a cooling effect from the clouds because, in general, that is the most prominent effect of clouds in the atmosphere,' Boyer explained. To reach their conclusions, Boyer and his colleagues measured the concentration of ammonia in the air at a site near Marambio Base in the winter of 2023. They were downwind of the colony of 60,000 Adélie penguins, and their poop. When the wind blew from that direction, they found the concentration of ammonia in the air increased to more than 1,000 times higher than the baseline level. Furthermore, it was still more than 100 times higher than the baseline after the penguins had migrated from the area by the end of February. To confirm that this was the direct result of the guano's ammonia, they took several additional atmospheric measurements on a single day, finding that the number and size of particles at the site sharply increased when the wind blew from the colony. Just three hours later, they observed a period of fog that they say was likely the result of the increased particles. Although the specific interaction between penguins and the Antarctic climate is currently poorly understood, Antarctic ecosystems are facing significant pressures because of human-driven climate change that is driving sea ice loss as global warming continues. Warmer waters may mean less of the phytoplankton that krill and fish eat, reducing the penguins' food supply. The researchers say that their conclusions emphasize the importance of protecting penguins, which play a vital role in balancing their ecosystems. Although these birds may only be just over two feet tall, their contribution may be massive. 'The oceans and the penguins are influencing the atmosphere and actually influencing the local climate in Antarctica,' said Boyer. 'The local changes in Antarctica will have an impact on global climate.'
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
Penguin droppings ‘delaying' climate change
Penguin droppings are helping to undo some of the effects of climate change, a study has found. Excrement of the marine birds contains a high amount of ammonia which rises into the atmosphere and helps form clouds that deflect sunlight and lower temperatures. Cloud cover has an insulating effect on the immediate environment and in the Antarctic region is thought to have a beneficial impact on the amount of sea ice cover. Scientists have found that the guano gas reacts with sulphur in the atmosphere to produce aerosols which then attract water vapour to form fog and clouds. Data from a research station near Marambio Base in Antarctica which was close to a colony of 60,000 Adélie penguins in early 2023 was tracked by researchers at the University of Helsinki. Analysis of ammonia levels over time revealed that when the site was upwind of the colony there was only a small amount of ammonia detectable. However, when the wind carried from the penguins to the sensors, ammonia levels jumped 1,000 times higher. On one day during the study, Feb 1 2023, there was a particularly high amount of ammonia over the research station about five miles from the colony, due to favourable winds. Data show that for about six hours the amount of particles in the air increased and then a fog was created. 'The chemical composition of the cloud droplet residuals was composed almost solely of ammonia sulphate, which confirms the participation of ammonia sourced from the penguins,' the scientists write. They add: 'Given that penguin colonies span the coast of Antarctica and that they leave guano/nutrient-rich soils that continue to emit ammonia after migration, we estimate that penguins provide a substantial source of ammonia that enhances particle concentrations across the entire coastal Antarctic region.' The scientists say that the environmental benefit of the faeces-driven cloud formation is likely to be seen the most around the coastal areas inhabited by the birds, but will also spread further afield. Ammonia has a short lifespan in the atmosphere but is released from guano over several days, providing a long-term source, the scientists found, which persists after the penguins have migrated. The researchers say: 'These newly formed particles could be further transported over parts of the Southern Ocean and continental Antarctica on this timescale, which could subsequently affect aerosol concentrations over the larger Antarctic region, including further inland where aerosol sources are limited. 'This suggests that coastal penguin/bird colonies could also comprise an important source of aerosol away from the coast.' The UK government body, the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, has been looking at ways to form clouds to dim sunlight, having announced £57 million being allocated for 21 'climate cooling' projects, including five outdoor field trials. The penguin study is published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.
