Cumulative Extreme Events Threaten Penguin Habitats Across the Southern Hemisphere

Upon the rise in the intensity, duration and frequency of extreme events threatening life on Earth across land and ocean, there is a need to select ecologically significant areas for targeted management interventions. This study assesses the spatial overlap of multiple extreme events and calculates the cumulative magnitude faced across the Southern Hemisphere during the last decades, focusing on the 18 species of penguins as ecosystem sentinels that rely on terrestrial and marine environments. Our analysis identifies African, Snares, Emperor, Adélie and Galápagos as the penguin species experiencing the highest cumulative values of extreme events. Additionally, when looking at the trends, we identify that all penguin species, except the Galápagos penguin, will face a potential increase in extreme events if current trends are maintained. This study carries a crucial message in conservation, establishing a spatial framework that allows sounding the alert in ecologically important areas to reduce vulnerability during present and future extreme events.