News in Brief Ecosystems

Volcanic eruptions nearly snuffed out Gentoo penguin colony

Gentoo penguin

Geochemical evidence of Gentoo penguin poop helped researchers pinpoint volcanoes as an ancient threat to one of today’s most successful Antarctic penguin colonies.

Stephen Roberts

By Helen Thompson

- More than 2 years ago

Penguins have been pooping on Ardley Island off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula for a long, long time. The population there is one of the biggest and oldest Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) colonies.