Chinese scientists have found the number of penguins in Antarctica varied as a result of environmental changes over the past 3,000 years by studying the excrement left by the penguins.
In a report published in the latest British science journal, "Nature," Chinese scientists said that the number of penguins was at the lowest during the cold period of 1,800 to 2,300 years ago, and then peaked during a warm period between 1,400 to 1,800 years ago.
More important, further studies to the excrement of the penguins will unveil environmental changes not only in Antarctica but also around the globe, said Sun Liguang, a professor from Chinese University of Science and Technology.
Sun, who participated in China's 15th expedition to the South Pole, collected four segments of ice core at the Antarctica to study the influence of human beings on the polar region.
He found that the change of the content of nine chemical elements including strontium, fluorine, sulfur and phosphor was caused by the excrement of penguins. By studying the variety of the elements, scientists can calculate the number of penguins over the past 3,000 years.
Experts say Chinese scientists have found a new way to study the history of the South Pole.
(21dnn 10/22/2000)
