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Antarctica penguins: How too much ice triggered population decline 堅冰過多導(dǎo)致南極企鵝數(shù)量劇減

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How is ice bad for penguins?

冰怎么會對企鵝有害呢？

A new study has revealed a 43% decline in Adélie penguins across 52 sites off east Antarctica over the last decade.

一項新研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，在過去十年中，在南極東部52個聚居地生活的阿德利企鵝數(shù)量減少了43%。

But what triggered the decline? Too much fast ice.

而造成企鵝數(shù)量減少的原因是過多的堅冰。

Dr Louise Emmerson, Australian Antartic Division
"So, fast ice is a layer of ice over the ocean between the open water and their breeding sites. That can be up to 80km.

露易絲·埃莫森博士       澳大利亞南極局
“堅冰是在海洋上的一層冰，介于開放水域和這些企鵝的繁殖地之間。堅冰覆蓋區(qū)域可長達80公里。”

Too much fast ice results in a very long trip to the ocean for food.

堅冰過多導(dǎo)致企鵝需要長途跋涉才能到海中覓食。

Dr Louise Emmerson, Australian Antartic Division
"In years where there's that extensive fast ice near the breeding colony, the adults have a lot of trouble feeding the chicks often enough."

露易絲·埃莫森博士       澳大利亞南極局
“在企鵝繁殖棲息地周邊大面積被堅冰覆蓋的年份里，成年企鵝很難照常定期給自己的雛鳥喂食。”

If the chicks aren't fed regularly, then they will die.

如果雛鳥不能定期得到喂食，它們就無法存活。

Dr Louise Emmerson, Australian Antartic Division
"Between 2003 and 2008, there was a lot of very extensive fast ice, and it was during that period that there were virtually no chicks that survived."

露易絲·埃莫森博士       澳大利亞南極局
“在2003年至2008年間，堅冰覆蓋的區(qū)域面積非常大，也正是在那段時間內(nèi)，幾乎沒有雛鳥幸存下來。”

But does climate change mean there is less ice?

不過，氣候變化是否意味著堅冰變少？

Dr Louise Emmerson, Australian Antartic Division
"So even though overall there is a reduction in that fast ice around Antarctica, we don't understand why it's so patchy or what has caused an increase in this particular area."

露易絲·埃莫森博士       澳大利亞南極局
“盡管南極周圍的堅冰總體上有所減少，但我們不清楚為什么堅冰的分布如此不均勻，也不明白是什么導(dǎo)致了這一區(qū)域的堅冰有所增加。”

After 2008, the ice receded, but the population continued to decline. Fewer fledglings were leaving the breeding site together, which reduced their chances of surviving their first winter at sea.

2008年之后，堅冰有所消退，但是企鵝的數(shù)量還在繼續(xù)減少。可以結(jié)伴離開繁殖地的幼鳥數(shù)量更少了，這降低了它們在海上活過第一個冬天的機會。

Dr Louise Emmerson, Australian Antartic Division
"The decline is actually very, very significant. We think it's because of this feedback process between population size, reduced breeding success and reduced fledgling survival that has just made that decline far more rapid than we would've expected if any one of those things were operating in isolation."

露易絲·埃莫森博士       澳大利亞南極局
“企鵝的數(shù)量真的大幅減少。我們認為這是幾個因素循環(huán)作用導(dǎo)致的，包括企鵝群基數(shù)減少、繁殖成功率下降和幼鳥成活率降低。這使得企鵝數(shù)量減少的速度遠遠超過我們的預(yù)期，預(yù)期中假設(shè)只有以上提到的某一個因素單獨起作用。”

Scientists are unsure if the population will be able to recover.

科學(xué)家們不確定企鵝的數(shù)量是否還能恢復(fù)。

Dr Louise Emmerson, Australian Antartic Division
"We're hopeful that with a few years where they've got good breeding success that maybe this population can turn around this negative decline. But we're really not sure yet – it depends on the environmental conditions that they're going to experience in the future, and of course we don't know that at this stage."

露易絲·埃莫森博士       澳大利亞南極局
“我們抱有希望，如果連續(xù)幾年繁殖成功率喜人，也許阿德利企鵝種群總數(shù)的惡性減少可以被扭轉(zhuǎn)。但我們現(xiàn)在無法確定，因為這取決于企鵝在未來將面臨的自然環(huán)境條件，而這是現(xiàn)階段我們無法得知的。”