South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston Harbor: Exhibits ~ Penguins in Peril

Penguins, despite starring in several movies, are finding it hard to deal with the modern world. There are 17 species of penguins worldwide, 13 of them are declining in population and three species are already listed as endangered.

Fishing: Overfishing has made it harder for penguins to find enough food to feed their young.

Oil spills: Penguins are more vulnerable to oil since they swim low in the water, nest in groups, and can’t fly.

Climate change: As ocean temperatures change, the small fish and krill that penguins feed on change their migration patterns and habitats.
There is hope for penguins. Governments have already taken action to change fishing practices and shipping lanes to help penguin colonies.
We can all choose actions that help as well.

People can help Penguins and
the Lowcountry

…And your bank account in the process!

Small actions make a big difference if a lot of people participate. There are several simple actions we can all take that will benefit the environment. These actions help to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money!

	Make an energy efficient home by properly insulating your home, replacing your most frequently used lamp with a compact fluorescent bulbs, and purchaseing “energy star” appliances
	Drive less and choose a lower mileage vehicle
	Purchase cleaner power. Most utilities now offer the option to purchase green power


Each morning from May to the middle of August, volunteers like Barbara Bergwerf of the Island Turtle Team walk the beach to look for signs of nesting loggerheads. The long-term survival of turtles is threatened. They are affected by many human actions and now possibly by climate change. “Sea turtles have been around since the time of dinosaurs,” Mrs. Bergwerf explains. “They have been able to adapt to long-term changes in their environment, but any large scale change in the environment is bound to affect them.” Turtles and penguins both nest along beaches, although in different parts of the world. Even though they are far apart, both are susceptible to flooding and changing current patterns. The instances of flooded nests have risen for penguin colonies and it is documented that penguins are now swimming farther for food than before.	Rachel Prioleau and her family live in one of downtown Charleston’s earliest suburbs, an area that had once been surrounded by tidal ponds that fueled rice and lumber mills. Although the Prioleaus love their almost 200-year-old home, they wonder how rising sea levels will impact downtown Charleston and their home. “We already see flooding throughout much of downtown when heavy rain arrives during high tide...It makes you question how long our home and community will be livable if sea levels continue to rise.” In some ways, penguins have similar problems. They live in neighborhoods of their own called colonies. Penguins, like humans, appear to be attached to their “neighborhoods” and colony sites are used repeatedly for over 150 years. Since these colonies are right on the beach, flooding affects them greatly and flooded nests are on the rise each year.

Mark Marhefka has been a commercial fisherman since 1979. “It’s a family business,” he says. These days, Marhefka is concerned about fishing and about the ocean. “We need to do a better job of eco-managing our oceans and we can fish more sustainably,” Marhefka says. The ocean helps us tremendously by absorbing carbon dioxide. Ocean animals use carbon dioxide to make shells. The problem is excess carbon dioxide. The more carbon dioxide that is absorbed, the more acidic the ocean becomes and it gets harder for animals like plankton, shellfish and corals to trap carbon dioxide causing the shells to begin to dissolve. Penguins are great fishers and have many adaptations designed just for fishing. They are able to swim hundreds of miles to find food and dive thousands of feet underwater to catch their fish. If ocean acidification affects the food chain, penguins may not be able to find enough fish to sustain themselves and their young.	Joseph Fields is proud of the produce he grows. His farm is located along River Road on John’s Island, a sea island very near Charleston. “The farm was certified organic about a year ago,” Mr. Fields says. “In some ways, organic farming is bringing back some old methods of farming. The taste of the produce is different and better from non-organic crops.“ Becoming certified organic is quite a process and requires a lot of work on the farmer’s part. The certification takes years to complete and governs pesticide use, seed sources and fertilizers. Climate is very tied to farming and our food supply. Climate change models predict that temperatures and rainfall will change in many areas. For pictures of the 2008 drought’s impacts, check out: www.drought.unl.edu Climate changes affect penguins’ food supply as well. Fish change their migration patterns based on water temperatures and the penguins may be forced to spend more time searching for their food.