VOA科学技术2023--Study: Lack of Ice Threatens Young Penguins

Study: Lack of Ice Threatens Young Penguins²

Researchers, using information gathered by satellites, say the loss of ice in Antarctica hurts the survival chances of rare seabirds.

The large flightless birds are called emperor penguins. They raise their young in groups, or colonies, on ice that forms around the continent. The ice partly melts during the summer months.

The British and French researchers studied satellite images to look at five breeding colonies of the birds in the area of the Bellingshausen Sea in 2022.

They said the images showed no sea ice was left in December during the Southern Hemisphere's summer. This also happened in 2021, the researchers noted³.

The scientists said four of the five colonies they studied had been affected⁴ by early sea ice loss.

Emperor penguin¹ chicks are born on the ice in Antarctica that forms during the winter there. The ice is important because penguin chicks do not develop waterproof⁵ feathers for one to two months after they are born.

Peter Fretwell is a researcher with the British Antarctic Survey who helped write the study. He said, "If the sea ice breaks up under them, the young chicks will drown."

The scientists published their research in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

Fretwell's team also started a study of places where the penguins make their nests across Antarctica. They were able to identify the nesting places in satellite images because the birds' waste is darker than the surrounding snow. The scientists estimate that there are 300,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins in Antarctica. The birds are the world's largest penguin.

Fretwell told the Associated Press that 30 percent of the 62 known penguin colonies were hurt by low levels of sea ice. He said 13 colonies likely failed.

Daniel Zitterbart studies Antarctica at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the state of Massachusetts. He was not involved in the study. But Zitterbart said he was not surprised by the results of the penguin study.

He said that, if penguins are not successful breeding in one place, they might look for another place next year. The population could recover.

But Zitterbart noted, "If you look further out down the line, how many suitable places will be left?"

Words in This Story

chick –n. a baby bird

journal –v. a publication that reports on special interest subjects, especially ones linked to university learning

breeding pair –n. two animals that are ready to reproduce and raise young

down the line –idiom at a later time

suitable –adj. having the qualities that are needed or required

1 penguin   

n.企鹅

参考例句：

• The penguin is a flightless bird.企鹅是一种不会飞的鸟。
• He walked with an awkward gait like a penguin.他走路的步子难看得就像企鹅。

2 penguins   

n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why can penguins live in cold environment? 为什么企鹅能生活在寒冷的环境中？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Whales, seals, penguins, and turtles have flippers. 鲸、海豹，企鹅和海龟均有鳍形肢。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 waterproof   

n.防水材料；adj.防水的；v.使...能防水

参考例句：

• My mother bought me a waterproof watch.我妈妈给我买了一块防水手表。
• All the electronics are housed in a waterproof box.所有电子设备都储放在一个防水盒中。