Antarctic Peninsular, 9th February 1997:

Scientists from the United States have suggested that climatic changes may be responsible for large declines in Adelie penguin populations along the Antarctic Peninsula.

On a visit to the US Palmer Antarctic station Greenpeace campaigners aboard the MV Arctic sunrise were shown Torgersen Island where large declines in Adelie penguins populations have been observed and where some colonies have become extinct. Adelie penguin populations around Palmer have fallen from around 15, 200 breeding pairs in 1975 to a current 9,200 pairs.

Dr Wayne Trivelpiece and Associate Professor William Fraser of Montana State University have had a long-term programme monitoring penguin populations on King George Island and Torgersen Island since the 1970's. Their research forms part of a US program to assess the role climatic factors are playing in changes within the Antarctic natural environment.

Associate Professor Fraser said their data suggested that sea ice is the preferred habitat for Adelie penguins during the winter months. "Over the past 40 years, a decrease in the frequency of cold years with extensive winter sea ice has probably been an important factor in the observed declines in Adelie penguin populations because of their reliance on the ice for winter habitat," he said.

The extinction of 21 colonies around Palmer station may be linked to climate changes. Adelie penguins can only nest in areas where snow or meltwater do not accumulate and Fraser hypothesises that increasing snow fall in the region is burying some nesting sites and causing colony extinctions.

Erwin Jackson, climate change campaign campaigner for Greenpeace on the MV Arctic Sunrise said: "Scientists have suggested that Antarctica's wildlife would be particularly vulnerable to global warming. These results bear this out, with dramatic changes in wildlife populations being observed in response to climatic changes."

The Greenpeace vessel the MV Arctic Sunrise is in the Antarctic Peninsula region for a month to document signs of climate change in the region. Over the last 50 years, the Antarctic Peninsula has warmed by 2.5 C.

NB: Footage and photographs will available from major international news agencies. For further information contact Gina Walker +44-171-865 8168

Contacts:

On board MV Arctic Sunrise: (ph +874 (or 871) 130 2577:

Janet Dalziell -- Expedition Leader, English

Erwin Jackson -- Climate Impacts Specialist, English

Martina Krueger -- German and Dutch

Emiliano Ezcurra -- Spanish,Portuguese, French, Italian

Greenpeace International press desk, Jon Walter ++31 20 5249 547

Dr Fraser can be contacted on Palmer station phone/fax 874 - 150 3157 or email fraserbi@palmer.usap.nsf.gov