CCPO Seminar Will Explore Climate-Related Factors Affecting the Well Being of Adelie Penguins

Erik Chapman, a doctoral student in the Old Dominion University Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, will speak on environmental factors affecting Antarctic penguins at a special seminar of the university's Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5.

The presentation is part of Chapman's doctoral dissertation defense. His research is titled, "Factors Affecting Adult Foraging and Chick Growth of Adelie Penguins Off the Western Antarctic Peninsula: A Modeling Study." He is advised by Eileen Hofmann, professor of ocean, earth and atmospheric sciences.

Chapman's studies show that adult Adelie penguins must balance complex interactions between food availability and other marine-based conditions in order to stay healthy and raise one or two viable chicks. This makes them vulnerable to climate-driven environmental changes.

The seminar is free and open to the public. It will be held in the CCPO facility on the third floor of the Innovation Research Park @ ODU Building.