Male Emperor penguins spend the coldest month in Antarctica incubating their eggs. When the chicks hatch they still have to be protected from the extreme cold temperatures. Explain why this is actually beneficial to the survival of the species versus laying the eggs during the summer months.

Question

hectoroftroy · Answer

Natural selection, maybe. The weak chicks don't make it; those with genes that make them more competitively suited to their environment do.

History has it the Vikings practiced something similar in the middle ages. They didn't bother naming newborn babies until they survived a night outside by themselves.

hectoroftroy · Answer

"March of the Penguins" would have the answer, I bet...

anonymous · Answer

Perhaps there are fewer predators in the colder periods?

hectoroftroy · Answer

I don't think there are any predators on the ice shelfs at all (maybe gulls - gulls are active pretty much all year round). The only real predators penguins have are sea leopards - while the males incubate the eggs, the females (who need nourishment because they just laid an egg) have to back to the sea for food. And the sea leopards regard them as snack.

anonymous · Answer

So much for me and penguins. Ask about pigeons next time!

anonymous · Answer

Extra credit for humor. I like that.