Penguin Numbers Doubled in First Species Survey From Space

[Judi Lynn]

Penguin Numbers Doubled in First Species Survey From Space

CAMBRIDGE, UK, April 14, 2012 (ENS) - The first count of a species from space shows there are twice as many emperor penguins in Antarctica than previously thought, an international team of researchers revealed Friday.

Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey, University of Minnesota/National Science Foundation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Australian Antarctic Division collaborated on the survey, using high-resolution satellite mapping technology.

Lead author and geographer Peter Fretwell at the British Antarctic Survey said the research findings are groundbreaking because they provide a benchmark for monitoring how the penguins are affected by environmental change.

"We are delighted to be able to locate and identify such a large number of emperor penguins," Fretwell said. "We counted 595,000 birds, which is almost double the previous estimates of 270,000 to 350,000 birds. This is the first comprehensive census of a species taken from space."

More:
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2012/2012-04-14-01.html

[longship]

1. Adelies!

Small, but the most numerous on the planet. What emperors have in size, Adelies have in numbers.

Both are very cool, no pun intended.

R&K