Why is a decrease in ice mass negatively impacting penguin populations?

The correct answer highlights the critical connection between ice mass and the food web that sustains penguin populations. Specifically, less ice means fewer krill available for penguins. Krill is a primary food source for many penguin species, particularly those that inhabit polar regions. These small crustaceans thrive in the nutrient-rich waters beneath the ice, where they graze on phytoplankton. A decrease in ice cover disrupts these ecosystems, leading to diminished krill populations. Consequently, with less access to their primary food source, penguins are likely to experience malnutrition, decreased reproductive success, and potentially higher mortality rates.

Understanding this connection is vital for grasping how changes in the environment, such as ice loss due to climate change, can have cascading effects on predator-prey dynamics in ecosystems.