Effects of Climate Change on Macaroni Penguins

Author: Amal Bilal, Class of 2028 Figure 1: Macaroni Penguins at Cooper Bay, South Georgia. The Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes Chrysolophus) is a sub-Antarctic penguin species that typically lives in colonies on sub-Antarctic islands in the South Atlantic and South Indian Oceans. As of 2013, 6.3 million breeding pairs were found, a 30% decline from the last regional census in 1993. This drastic decrease in population … Continue reading Effects of Climate Change on Macaroni Penguins

Penguin Nesting Behavior: Effects of Tourism at Port Lockroy

By: Kimberly Johnston, Class of 2026 Figure 1:  Gentoo penguin with chicks at Port Lockroy, Antarctica. Antarctic tourism has raised concerns about the effects of human disturbance on gentoo penguins during their breeding season, which coincides with peak tourist activity. For example, the movement of zodiacs used to transport tourists ashore can disrupt the penguins’ normal routes and foraging areas. However, quantifying the effects of … Continue reading Penguin Nesting Behavior: Effects of Tourism at Port Lockroy

Modeling Debris Patterns in the Antarctic to Protect Biodiversity

Marie Collison, Class of ‘25 Image 1 Gentoo penguins in Antarctica Marine pollution is a prominent problem in environmental policy and study. Reports of pollution in organisms in the Antarctic are becoming increasingly common, likely due to increasing human activity, growing tourism, and an expanding krill fishing industry. However, the sources of these pollutants along the West Antarctic Peninsula are still poorly understood. There are … Continue reading Modeling Debris Patterns in the Antarctic to Protect Biodiversity

Adélie Penguins Are at Risk of Extinction by Climate Change

Melanie Karniewich ’25 Climate change is becoming more alarming at an increasing rate across the globe, affecting humanity and other life. Associate professor of ecology and evolution Heather Lynch and other researchers at Stony Brook University traveled to visit Adélie penguin colonies in Penguin Point, Devil Island, Vortex Island, and Cockburn Island. Comparing the population sizes with the severity of climate change in that area, … Continue reading Adélie Penguins Are at Risk of Extinction by Climate Change