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Dr. Erin Clitheroe – Handling the Heat: Helping Penguin Island’s little penguins adapt to Climate Change
3 May 2024 , 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Between 2007 and 2019, the little penguin population on Penguin Island, once the largest in Western Australia with approximately 1700 birds, underwent a dramatic decline to just 150 breeding pairs—an alarming reduction of over 80%.
This decline stems from a complex mix of natural, anthropogenic, and climate-related factors posing imminent threats to their survival.
Dr Erin Clitheroe with a Little Penguin
Marine heatwaves pose a significant threat, compounded by rising air temperatures challenging this cold-water adapted species. The strong fidelity of little penguins to their breeding islands necessitates swift adaptation to the rapidly changing environmental conditions. However, to avert local extinction, human intervention will be crucial. It’s a race against time to implement fast and effective climate change adaptation strategies, providing this colony with the best chance of survival.
Erin is actively engaged in seabird research and conservation across the southwest, she collaborates closely with community groups, government agencies, and NGOs to safeguard our vulnerable seabird species. Several interventions, including cooler nesting boxes, misting systems, and ice blocks are being implemented to bolster resilience and adaptive capacity within this unique penguin population, significantly advancing conservation and climate change adaptation efforts for little penguins across their range.