Experts Get the Poop on Penguins

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 2, 2009 4:19 AM CDT
Experts Get the Poop on Penguins
Emperor penguins and their chicks cluster in Antarctica.   (AP Photo/Warner Independent Pictures, Jerome Maison)

Emperor penguin droppings are so concentrated that the reddish-brown guano has been spotted from space, reports the Times of London. That's a good thing because it's helping scientists pinpoint colonies of the giant birds in Antarctica and help experts track climate change affects. “The ice gets pretty dirty and it's the guano stains that we can see,” said the lead researcher, who examined satellite images of the droppings. Colonies have already began to shift due to melting.

(More penguins stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X