Millions more Adélie penguins are waddling along the icy Antarctic continent than scientists previously thought.
Researchers had estimated that about 2.3 million Adélie penguins called East Antarctica home. But a new survey more than doubles that estimate, to 5.9 million individuals in that area.
A team of scientists completed a comprehensive count of the penguin population using aerial and ground surveys, tagging data and automated cameras during several breeding seasons.
The new estimation is the first to take into account nonbreeding penguins; previous population counts focused only on breeding pairs. [In Photos: Adélie Penguins of East Antarctica]
"Nonbreeding birds are harder to count because they are out, foraging at sea, rather than nesting in colonies on land," Louise Emmerson, a seabird ecologist with the Australian Antarctic Division of the Australian government's Department of the Environment and Energy, said in a statement. "However, our study in East Antarctica has shown that nonbreeding Adélie penguins may be as, or more, abundant than the breeders. These birds are an important reservoir of future breeders, and estimating their numbers ensures we better understand the entire population's foraging needs."
For full articles references : Happier Feet: Antarctica Home to Millions More Penguins Than Thought
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This defensive countershading permits them to stow away from hunters like panther seals and orcas while they swim.
While penguins can't fly, their firm flippers, webbed feet, and smooth shape make them master swimmers.
Indeed, they burn through a large portion of their lives in the sea and do essentially all of their chasing after krill, squid, and crabs submerged.
Polar Penguinstore can travel significant distances rapidly by "sledding," or sliding across the ice on their guts and pushing forward with their feet.
In case it's particularly cool, they group together in enormous states that shield them from hunters and give warmth.
Business fishing in the Southern Sea is additionally a critical worry, as it has decreased fish supply by about half in the Antarctic Landmass.
Some island-tenants can be found in more sizzling conditions, but most—including ruler, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins—abide in and around cool Antarctica.
The 18 special kinds of Penguinstore can commonly perfectly healthy and appraise anyway all have dim bodies and white girths.
This protective countershading licenses them to stow away from trackers like puma seals and orcas while they swim.
While Penguinstores can't fly, their firm flippers, webbed feet, and smooth shape make them ace swimmers.
They can swim around 15 miles an hour, and when they need to accelerate, they routinely porpoise, or leap out of the water as they swim.
Polar penguins can travel critical distances quickly by "sledding," or sliding across the ice on their bellies and pushing forward with their feet.
