New research reveals that penguin guano is driving faster snow melt in Antarctica. As temperatures rise globally, penguins are moving further south, bringing nutrient-rich waste that fuels blooms of snow algae. When nutrients are scarce, these tiny single-celled plants produce red pigments to protect themselves from the sun, but the resulting changes to the snow's surface cause it to absorb significantly more solar energy. This previously unrecognised phenomenon highlights how ecological shifts in the polar regions can create compounding environmental impacts as the climate crisis continues to unfold. Fuente: The Guardian Australia #Antarctica #ClimateChange #Penguins #Science #Environment
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