Pulau Layang-Layang (16035)
Malaysia, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Pulau Layang-Layang
Central coordinates: Latitude: 7.3667, Longitude: 113.8333
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 12.06555
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: (I) Physical CharacteristicsPulau Layang-Layang (also known as Swallow Reef) is a reef atoll, which is in the Spratly Islands group, is situated in the South China Sea, about 350 km off the coast of Sabah. The island was created by the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1984 by dredging coral and sand out of the centre of the atoll and piling it onto a part of the existing reef. At present, it measures about 1 km long and 200 m wide. The island serves as a naval base for the Malaysian Navy and a small resort, which caters for diving enthusiast (Davison, 1999; Gibby, 1997; Poole, 1994; Noramly and Noramly, 1985).(II) Climatic ConditionsAnnual average rainfall of 1,640 mm. Heavy rains during the north-east monsoon, less wet during the south-west monsoon. Inter-monsoon period March-June, receives least precipitation.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: The island is probably the most important refuge for breeding seabird colonies, situated on its western part, especially the Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii, Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana, Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata, Brown Noddy Anous stolidus and Brown Bobby Sula leucogaster in Malaysia (Wells, 1991). About 10% of the Asian population of the Great Crested Tern are found on the island. From July to October, more than 10,000 wintering individuals of these species congregate on the tiny island to breed (Gibby, 1997; Haile, 1964; Poole, 1994; Noramly and Noramly, 1985; Mat Isa et al., 1997; Pilcher et al., 1999). Pulau Layang-Layang may be an important staging site for migrants other than seabirds (Davison, 1999). Non-bird biodiversity: The surrounding waters off this man-made island have one of the best coral reefs in the world. (I) Globally threatened mammals (IUCN, 2002): None.(II) Globally threatened reptiles (IUCN, 2002): CRITICAL: Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata(III) Globally threatened plants (IUCN, 2002): None
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Most of the vegetation on the island are introduced consisting mostly of trees and ornamental plants such as Bougainvillea, Ixora, Terminalia catappa, Cocos nucifera and Casuarina equisetifolia. Pioneer tree and grass species such as Casuarina equisetifolia, Barringtonia sp. and Ipomea pes-capre can be found colonizing the degraded and sandy soil patches.
Land use: military | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The presence of breeding Great Crested Terns and to a lesser extent, Brown Noddy and Brown Bobby, has been documented as early as 1960s. Preceding visits by various authors has shown that the breeding populations may be dwindling. Sensitive species such as the Black-naped Tern has failed to breed successfully for several seasons (TRACC, no date). Several factors may be attributed to this problem (Poole, 1994; Noramly and Noramly, 1985; Pilcher et al., 1999; TRACC, no date).Introduction of cats and rats onto the island by the Navy and people from the resort.Expanding development by the resort.Openness of the breeding grounds towards disturbances e.g. inquisitive visitors (tourists and Navy personnel) and flight operations.
Additional information
References: Davison, G.W.H. 1999. Pulau Layang-Layang Revisited. Sabah Society Journal 16: 31-39.Gibby, M. 1997. Sights, Sounds and Smells. Malayan Naturalist 51(1): 24-29.Haile, N.S. 1964. Notes on birds on Spratly Island, Amboyna Bay and Swallow Reef, South China Sea. Sabah Society Journal 2: 135-137.IUCN. 2002. 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.redlist.org (23 June 2003).Mat-Isa, M. Mohd-Tajuddin, A., Burhanuddin, M.N., Tuuga, A., Jumrafiah, A.S. and Maria, J.A. 1997. The birds on Pulau Layang-Layang, South China Sea, Malaysia. Journal of Wildlife Management & Research, Sabah 1: 26-30. Møller, H. S. 2002. Pulau Layang-Layang, Sabah, East Malaysia. Bird Observations 26-29 May 2002. (Unpublished).Noramly, M and Noramly, G. 1985. Layang-Layang - Island Paradise for Sea Birds. Nature Malaysiana 10(4): 14-23.Noramly, G., Jeyarajasingam, A. and Ooi, C.H. (compilers) 2002. Recent Sightings. Suara Enggang 3 (May-June): 30-50.Pilcher, N., Oakley, S. and Ghazally Ismail. 1999. Layang-Layang: A Drop in the Ocean. Kota Kinabalu: Natural History Publications (Borneo).Poole, C. 1994. Layang-Layang - Malaysia's largest seabird colony. Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 20: 44-46.TRACC. No date. Bird life of Pulau Layang-Layang. www.tracc.org.my (2 December 2002).Wells, D.R. 1991. Status and conservation of seabirds breeding in Malaysian waters. In Croxall, J.P. (ed.). Status and conservation of the world's seabirds: a supplement, pp. 213-223. United Kingdom: International Council for Bird Preservation. (Technical Publication No. 11)