Pearl Archipelago (19324)
Panama, Central America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Archipiélago de Las Perlas
Central coordinates: Latitude: 8.3833, Longitude: -78.8833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 223
Area of KBA (km2): 331.1279
Protected area coverage (%): 29.68
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Pearl Archipelago is located in the Gulf of Panama, the northernmost islands being located 28 km from the mainland. The largest islands are the Isla del Rey (24,113 ha), Isla San José (4,455 ha), Pedro González (1,461 ha). There are dozens of smaller islands. Most of the archipelago is sparsely inhabited, mainly by afrocoloniales.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The archipelago is an important nesting site for colonial waterbirds, especially Brown Pelican. The largest colony of this species in Panama is found on Isla Pedro González, and other significant colonies occur on Señora, Pacheca, Pachequilla, San Telmo, and San Pablo. Other colonially nesting species include Brown Booby, Blue-footed Booby, Neotropic Cormorant, Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and White Ibis. Bare-throated Tiger-Heron is common coastally throughout the archipelago. San José, Pedro González, and Rey are the only localities in Panama for the nationally endangered White-fringed Antwren, represented by an endemic subspecies. The next closest locality for the species is northern Colombia. The nationally threatened Yellow-crowned Amazon also occurs. Research in the Pearl Archipelago has yielded important information on island biogeography, ecology, and genetic differentiation in isolated populations (MacArthur et al. 1972, Wright et al. 1985, Brawn et al. 1996). The archipelago, with 13 endemic subspecies, is an important center of subspecific differentiation. Non-bird biodiversity: American Crocodile occurs.
Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The larger islands are mainly covered by semideciduous lowland forest. Some small areas near towns on Isla del Rey are deforested for subsistence agriculture. Most of the forest on Pedro González is disturbed, while that on San José is mostly intact. Coastal habitats include sandy beaches, rocky shores, and mangroves. The smallest islands are covered in scrub and grass. The only large scale development is found on Isla Contadora, which is mainly occupied by vacation homes and tourist hotels. Otherwise there are only seven small communities in the archipelago, whose inhabitants engage mainly in fishing and subsistence agriculture. There is a small fishing lodge on San José.
Land use: agriculture | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 25 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 25 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Although relatively undeveloped at present, the Pearl Islands are attracting increasing interest for tourism development. A major planned development on Isla Viveros has begun construction, which has caused substantial deforestation. Other large developments are planned on other islands.
Additional information
References: Angehr, George R. 2003. Directorio de areas importantes para aves en Panama. Directory of important bird areas in Panama. Panama: Sociedad Audubon de Panama. Angehr, George R. and James A. Kushlan. Seabird and colonial wadingbird nesting in the Gulf of Panama. (Submitted to Waterbirds) Brawn, Jeffrey D., T.M. Collins, M. Medina, and Eldredge Bermigham. 1996. Associations between physical isolation and geographical variations within three species of neotropical birds. Molecular Ecology 5: 33-46. MacArthur, Robert H., Jared M. Diamond, and James R. Karr. 1972. Density compensation in island faunas. Ecology 53:330-342. Ridgely, Robert S., and John A. Gwynne. 1989. A Guide to the Birds of Panama (Second Edition). Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. Wetmore, Alexander. 1965. The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 1. Tinamidae (Tinamous) to Rhynchopidae (Skimmers). Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. Wetmore, Alexander. 1968. The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 2. Columbidae (Pigeons) to Picidae (Woodpeckers). Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. Wetmore, Alexander. 1973. The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 3. Passeriformes: Dendrocolaptidae (Woodcreepers) to Oxyruncidae (Sharpbill). Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. Wetmore, Alexander, Roger F. Pasquier, and Storrs L. Olson. 1984. The Birds of the Republic of Panama. Part 4. Passeriformes: Hirundinidae (Swallows) to Fringillidae (Finches). Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. Wright, S. Joseph, John Faaborg, and Claudia J. Camp-bell. 1985. Birds form tightly structured communities in the Pearl Archipelago, Panama. Ornithological Monographs 36: 798-812.