The power of penguin guano to reduce the effects of climate change in Antarctica – EL PAÍS English

Report on the Climatic Impact of Penguin Guano and its Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Research Context

A study conducted at Marambio Base on the Antarctic Peninsula has revealed a significant, previously unknown environmental process with direct implications for several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Research published in Nature indicates that Adélie penguin colonies, through their fecal waste (guano), play a crucial role in atmospheric processes that may help mitigate regional climate change. This report analyzes these findings, with a specific focus on their connection to SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Key Scientific Findings

The Role of Ammonia in Atmospheric Particle Formation

The research, led by Matthew Boyer of the University of Helsinki, centered on the analysis of atmospheric gases between January and March 2023. The key findings related to ammonia emissions are as follows:

• Penguin guano is a major source of ammonia gas in the otherwise low-ammonia Antarctic environment.
• Air blowing from the direction of a 60,000-member penguin colony showed ammonia concentrations increasing to 13.5 parts per billion.
• This concentration remained more than 100 times higher than the baseline even after the penguins migrated, as the remaining guano continued to emit the gas.
• The presence of ammonia was found to accelerate the formation of new atmospheric particles (aerosols) from ocean gases, such as sulfuric acid, by a factor of up to one thousand.

From Aerosols to Cloud Formation

The accelerated formation of aerosols has a direct impact on cloud creation, a process vital to climate regulation and central to achieving SDG 13.

1. Atmospheric particles act as “seeds,” or cloud condensation nuclei.
2. Water vapor in the atmosphere requires these nuclei to condense upon.
3. A greater number of particles, facilitated by ammonia from guano, significantly increases the probability of cloud formation.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13: Climate Action

The study’s findings are profoundly relevant to SDG 13, which urges action to combat climate change and its impacts. The natural process identified demonstrates a potential climate-regulating feedback loop.

• The clouds formed through this mechanism can reflect sunlight back into space, producing a cooling effect on the Earth’s surface.
• This highlights the critical role that intact ecosystems play in providing climate-mitigating services.
• Understanding these natural processes is essential for improving the accuracy of climate models and developing holistic strategies to achieve global climate targets.

SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 15: Life on Land

This research underscores the interconnectedness of life on land, life below water, and the climate system, reinforcing the importance of SDG 14 and SDG 15.

• The study establishes a direct link between a terrestrial animal colony (SDG 15) and atmospheric chemistry. Protecting penguin habitats is therefore not only a matter of biodiversity conservation but also of climate regulation.
• Further expert commentary notes that guano runoff also benefits marine ecosystems. It introduces essential nutrients and trace metals into the ocean, which are vital for the development of phytoplankton (SDG 14).
• Phytoplankton form the base of the Antarctic food web and play a key role in the ocean’s biological carbon pump, absorbing atmospheric CO2. The health of penguin colonies thus supports a healthier, more resilient marine environment capable of sequestering carbon.

Conclusion and Future Research

Summary of Significance

The research demonstrates that Adélie penguins are not merely inhabitants of the Antarctic ecosystem but active participants in shaping its atmospheric environment. This link between biodiversity and climate regulation provides a compelling argument for the conservation of polar ecosystems as a core component of global strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Next Steps

Further investigation is required to fully understand the implications of these findings. The next phase of research will focus on:

• Directly measuring the radiative properties of the clouds formed by this process to quantify their precise impact on the climate.
• Integrating these biological feedback mechanisms into global climate models to enhance their predictive accuracy.
• Expanding research to other seabird colonies to determine if this is a more widespread phenomenon.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article directly addresses this goal by exploring a natural phenomenon that could “mitigate the effects of climate change.” The core of the research discussed is how ammonia from penguin guano leads to cloud formation, which can influence the climate by reflecting sunlight and potentially “reducing surface temperatures.”

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This goal is relevant as the study is set in the Antarctic Peninsula and focuses on marine and coastal ecosystems. It discusses Adélie penguins, their diet (krill and small fish), and their waste’s impact on the Southern Ocean. The article also explains how guano provides essential nutrients for “phytoplankton development,” which forms the base of the Antarctic food chain and plays a role in the ocean’s “biological carbon pump.”

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article connects to this goal by focusing on a key species, the Adélie penguin, and its terrestrial habitat. It describes the “polar desert” landscape of Marambio Base, with its “permafrost, rocks,” where penguins form large colonies. The study of these colonies and their impact contributes to understanding and protecting biodiversity in this unique terrestrial ecosystem.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. The study and the article itself contribute to this target by disseminating new scientific knowledge about a complex climate feedback loop, raising awareness about the intricate connections within ecosystems that can influence global climate patterns.

2. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans. The research provides critical data on the functioning of the Antarctic coastal ecosystem, highlighting the role of penguins in nutrient cycling and atmospheric processes, which is foundational knowledge for protection and management strategies.
   • Target 14.a: Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology… in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries. The entire article is a testament to this target, describing a scientific study conducted by international researchers to “increase scientific knowledge” about ocean-atmosphere interactions and the role of marine biodiversity (penguins) in ecosystem services.

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The study focuses on Adélie penguins, a key species in the Antarctic ecosystem. By quantifying their population (“colonies of 60,000 members”) and their significant ecological role, the research underscores the importance of protecting this species and its habitat, thereby contributing to halting biodiversity loss.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Concentration of ammonia in the air: The study provides specific measurements, such as the ammonia concentration increasing to “13.5 parts per billion” near a penguin colony. This serves as a direct indicator of the ecosystem’s chemical influence on the atmosphere.
• Rate of atmospheric particle formation: The article states that the presence of ammonia accelerates particle formation “up to a thousandfold.” This rate is a key indicator of the potential for cloud formation.
• Phytoplankton population and health: The article implies that the introduction of “trace metals essential for phytoplankton development” from guano can be measured. The health and density of phytoplankton populations are critical indicators for the productivity of the marine food web and the effectiveness of the biological carbon pump.
• Carbon dioxide absorption: The mention of phytoplankton absorbing “carbon dioxide from the atmosphere” points to CO2 sequestration rates as a crucial indicator for measuring the ecosystem’s role in climate mitigation.
• Wildlife population size: The article specifies the size of Adélie penguin colonies, mentioning “colonies of 60,000 members.” Monitoring penguin population trends is a direct indicator of biodiversity and ecosystem health under Target 15.5.
• Cloud radiative properties: The article suggests a future indicator by stating the “next step will be to directly measure the radiative properties of these clouds to understand their impact on climate.” This would be a direct measurement of the climate mitigation effect.

4. Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: english.elpais.com