According to this 2018 Nature paper, scientists were able to make this discovery using many different satellite photo datasets and analyzing them. Scientists regularly use these satellite images to map the size, location, and habitat of many other species, but the discoveries are almost never this exciting! These satellite images were taken by both unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and direct ground counts.
This finding sparked dialogue about the fate of Adelie penguins and many other avians whose habitat is threatened by global warming or climate change. One of the hypotheses suggested that penguin populations have been gradually moving to the west to avoid other areas where the melting of ice in Antarctica has threatened their habitat. This new data about their habitat also encourages conservationists to reconsider which areas should be highlighted as protected areas to ensure these species are protected from losing more of their habitat.
- Rund Tawfiq (3)
This was exciting to read about. A large population being undiscovered is no easy task, especially with all the technology today! I feel that as the human population increases and technology becomes more widespread perhaps more hidden populations may be discovered or some long lost species may be found tucked away.
ReplyDelete-Trung Le (2)
I agree! I definitely think that as our technology progresses, we will have so much more information about hidden populations. I hope that these findings encourage us to do more to protect these animals and their habitats.
Delete- Rund Tawfiq (3)
What an amazing find! So incredible how this population increases the number of Adelie penguins by 70 percent.
ReplyDelete-- Hannah Kullberg (2)
Given the general trend of global warming and all the threatened species going extinct, it is really inspiring and refreshing to finally have scientific news that is positive! 1.5 million penguins on land seems like an inconceivable population number, and for it to go undiscovered so long is pretty mind-boggling. If that many penguins can hide on land, I wonder what could be hiding in unknown waters? It is pretty crazy how little we actually know.
ReplyDelete-Harris Jackson (1)
That is true! A finding of a population this big puts a lot of things into perspective. While it may seem like we know a lot about the world, what we know is actually a small fraction of what is left to be found.
Delete- Rund Tawfiq (3)
Wow, a finding a new population that leads to a 70% increase is unheard of! Like Harris pointed out, it makes you think about what else we're overlooking. In the oceans, rainforests, underground, etc. there are probably species we haven't even discovered yet! It really makes you think about how vast and undiscovered our plant and its inhabitants really are.
ReplyDelete- Nicole Ayres (1)
I recall recently reading that what we know about the ocean and its species is only about 5%. I feel that it is incredibly important that we make efforts to explore it further, as oceans cover about 70% of our planet!
Delete- Rund Tawfiq (3)
I'm not surprised we found a new colony of penguins because climate change is really impacting species and the environment they're living in. Maybe they're adapting to the new weather changes and evolving on their own. Before I finished reading the article, my hypothesis of why a new colony was discovered was because penguin populations have been gradually moved to avoid other areas where the melting of ice in Antarctica has threatened their habitat.
ReplyDelete-Catherine Tsang (3)