Researchers from the University of Minnesota have discovered that emperor penguins are acting in such a manner which might assist them in adjusting to a warmer Earth because of climate change.
Research conducted earlier had supposed that emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) were philopatric or were loyal to their nesting grounds. Images taken from satellite now suggest that these penguins are not going back to the same place for breeding.
The research team discovered six cases where penguins changed their breeding grounds in duration of three years. Michelle LaRue presented the findings of the research at the IDEACITY conference in Toronto and the study will be published in the journal Ecography.
Another related research by British Antarctic Survey scientists had shown that these birds were deserting their customary breeding grounds for steady ice shelves.
In fact, now in order to find good breeding places, penguins are now scaling steep ice shelf walls, which are some 30 meters or almost 100 feet high.
The penguin colony was presented in the documentary 'March of the Penguins' and is known as Pointe G'ologie. It h! as been under study for over six decades.
Previously, researchers were of the view that Pointe G'ologie was isolated and penguins never shifted to other breeding spots.
Now the new images of the colony show that there are numerous other breeding grounds and the penguin colony is not as isolated as supposed to be.
Source : http://www.delhidailynews.com/news/Emperor-Penguins-may-change-breeding-location-to-cope-with-climate-change-1403362196/
