Penguins Ousted Seals in Antarctica 1,400 Years Ago Due to Climate Shift

A study utilizing ancient DNA has reconstructed 6,000 years of penguin history in Antarctica. Researchers discovered that Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) displaced southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from their habitat approximately 1,400 years ago. This shift occurred at Cape Hallett in eastern Antarctica, coinciding with a period of climate cooling and expanding sea ice. The international team of scientists from Australia, China, New Zealand, and the United States analyzed 156 sediment samples collected from both active and abandoned Adélie penguin colonies located on Ross Island and the East Victoria Land coastlines. The analysis, published in *Nature Communications*, revealed that Adélie penguins became the dominant vertebrates in the region, followed by the south polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki). The findings suggest a high sensitivity of the Antarctic ecosystem to climate change, emphasizing the importance of understanding its history for predicting future impacts and informing conservation strategies. Adélie penguins are endemic to Antarctica and represent the smallest penguin species found there.