Emperor penguins breed on shelves of sea ice in the winter. By spring, the chicks have developed waterproof plumage and are ready to swim in the cold ocean waters. What effect might a warming climate have on the penguins? (1 point)

Responses

The sea ice freezes earlier in the winter, shifting the breeding schedule.
The sea ice freezes earlier in the winter, shifting the breeding schedule.

The sea ice melts later in the season, and the penguins have to travel farther to find food.
The sea ice melts later in the season, and the penguins have to travel farther to find food.

The sea ice melts before the chicks are ready to swim.
The sea ice melts before the chicks are ready to swim.

The chicks grow faster because of the warming temperature.

1 answer

The most concerning effect of a warming climate on emperor penguins is that the sea ice melts before the chicks are ready to swim. This could lead to increased mortality rates as the chicks may not be able to survive without the protection of sea ice or may not be able to efficiently find food if the ice melts too early.