Antarctic Penguin Habitat Reshaped by Tsunami... Nesting Map Transformed [Reading Science]

It has been confirmed that the breeding grounds of Ad?lie penguins in Antarctica experienced structural changes in nest distribution along with alterations in the landscape following an unusual tsunami-induced flooding.

The Korea Polar Research Institute announced that an analysis of Ad?lie penguin breeding sites in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica, conducted through aerial photography, revealed that both the terrain of the breeding grounds and the distribution of nests changed simultaneously after the tsunami.

Breeding site overview in December 2019. A tsunami that occurred in February 2019 moved icebergs of various sizes deep into the coast of Edmondson Point, and these icebergs remained without melting on the coast and penguin habitats until the next breeding season in December. Courtesy of the Polar Research Institute

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The Ad?lie penguin is a species with a strong homing instinct, meaning it tends to return to the same nesting sites used in previous breeding seasons. Approximately 1.2 million Ad?lie penguins inhabit the Ross Sea, and since the designation of a marine protected area in 2017, the government has been continuously monitoring their breeding ecology.

The research team conducted a comparative analysis of the breeding site at Edmondson Point in the Ross Sea, which suffered tsunami damage of about 1.95 meters in height in February 2019, examining data from before the tsunami (December 2017) and after (December 2019). This area is typically protected from tsunamis by a thick layer of sea ice acting as a natural breakwater; however, at the time, the sea ice had not sufficiently formed, which is believed to have caused the damage.

The analysis showed that the guano (excrement) layer that had covered the breeding grounds was washed away by the tsunami, and icebergs carried in by the waves occupied previous nesting sites along the coast. Some of these icebergs remained unmelted, fundamentally altering the landscape itself.

These changes also had an impact on nest distribution. The number of coastal breeding ground nests decreased by 5.48%, from 1,971 to 1,863, while the number of nests in hill breeding grounds increased by 10.42%, from 576 to 643.

Kim Junghoon, the lead researcher at the Korea Polar Research Institute, stated, "This case demonstrates that unexpected events such as tsunamis can alter the structure of penguin breeding grounds," adding, "If a tsunami were to occur during the peak breeding season, it could result in direct harm to eggs or chicks."

Distribution of Ad?lie Penguin Nests Before and After the Tsunami. Nest distribution during the 2017-18 breeding season (left) and the 2019-20 breeding season (right) at Edmondson Point. The Ad?lie penguin nest distribution is marked with blue lines (left) and green lines (right). The yellow-brown guano layer on the ground before the tsunami was washed away, revealing black soil after the tsunami. Courtesy of the Polar Research Institute

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He also pointed out that large coastal lowland breeding grounds within the Ross Sea, such as Cape Adare (with approximately 300,000 pairs) and Cape Hallett (with about 40,000 pairs), are exposed to similar risks.

This study was conducted as part of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' 'Study on Ecosystem Changes in the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area,' and the results were published in the February 2026 issue of the international journal 'New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics.'

Kim Yumin, the first author of the paper and a researcher at the Korea Polar Research Institute, explained, "Due to the homing behavior of Ad?lie penguins, there is a possibility that the nest distribution established after the tsunami will persist in future breeding seasons."

Director Shin Hyungcheol of the Korea Polar Research Institute stated, "The Antarctic coastal ecosystem responds very sensitively to changes in the marine environment," and added, "We will strengthen long-term monitoring of changes in coastal habitats."

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