Question

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

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 chicks grow faster because of the warming temperature.
The chicks grow faster because of the warming temperature.

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

Answer 1

The most likely effect of a warming climate on emperor penguins would be:

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

This could lead to a situation where the chicks might not have enough time to develop the necessary skills to survive in the ocean before the sea ice disappears.