Some Adelie penguin colonies in Antarctica have been there for centuries. Which means there is a build up of thousands of years of penguin poo and carcasses.
Warming temperatures will increase the melt water flowing through these colonies. And this massive build up of contaminants could become a problem.
Masters student from the University of Waikato Madison Farrant is heading south this summer to research this. She talks to Jesse about the trouble shooting they're doing.