PENGUINS ON THE FRONTLINE

Since 2007, A&K has been supporting studies into the effect of climate change on polar marine life in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. The program, located at Palmer Station at the northern tip of the continent, is led by Dr. James McClintock, an award-winning climate scientist from the University of Alabama.

An investment from A&K contributed to $500,000 worth of essential lab supplies and equipment such as tags and drones, which have enabled McClintock and his team to research ocean acidification, food chain dynamics and Adélie penguin populations. As penguins are considered an indicator species, studying them provides vital insights about wider environmental conditions as well as a much-loved icon of the region. One of the lasting impacts of the project has been the Torgersen Island penguin cam, the only penguin-monitoring webcam on the Antarctic peninsula, and an effective way of engaging the public in the project’s conservation efforts.