It's pretty difficult to look at a photo of a penguin and not feel even the tiniest pull of the heartstrings. I suppose that's the animal-lover in me - or possibly my body reminding me it's almost time for my afternoon coffee fix. I'm almost postive it is the penguins this time though.

Unfortunately the cute photo is not accompanies with good news for the penguins, specifically the King penguins found in the northern parts of Antarctica. Scientists have found that this species of penguins are at risk as their food supply - namely small fish and squid - is cut down due to global warming. High sea surface temperatures reduce the number of marine prey in the area, which in turn, is threatening the survival rate of the penguins. For every 0.46 degree F the sea surface warms, the King penguin experiences a nine per cent decline in their adult population.

The results of the research have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which also says these penguins are solid indicators of changes in their ecosystem because they do not rely on krill and other crustaceans as other sea mammals do.

» Reuters Environment