Chinstrap penguins are a major source of iron in the Southern Ocean. Their feces contain a high amount of iron, which can be used to recycle CO2.
The loss of the penguin population could have a major impact on the environment, scientists say. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. It is the first study to show the impact of the loss of penguin populations on the ocean's iron content. The research was carried out by scientists at the University of California, San Diego.