Natural History Wanderings

Penguins have been in the new lately.

The New York Times reports on study showing the impact of climate change on Magellanic penguins. The Magellanic penguins chicks have already been at risk from predators and starvation. However, in one of the first studies to show the impact of climate change on a species, it has been documented that in two recent years storms were responsible for most of the chick deaths. Chicks also suffer from increased deaths from heat and hypothermia. Read more at:  For Already Vulnerable Penguins, Study Finds Climate Change Is Another Danger – NYTimes.com.

The Wisconsin Gazette and Center For Biological Diversity report that The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Emperor Penguins may warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. They are the most ice-dependent of all penguin species, Emperor Penguins are threatened by the loss of sea-ice habitat and declining food availability off Antarctica. Read more U.S. agency to consider endangered species protections for emperor penguin.