Kangaroo Island (23940)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Kangaroo Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -35.8280, Longitude: 137.2420
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 310
Area of KBA (km2): 4416.71926
Protected area coverage (%): 34.73
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Kangaroo Island, the third largest island off Australia, is 12 km south of the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide. The whole of Kangaroo Island and some very small inshore islands are taken as an IBA because the main bird values, the strong populations of Hooded Plovers and Bush Stone-curlews, are partly dependent on the island's isolation from foxes and other mainland threats. The island has poor soils and only about half is cleared for farmland, which is mostly grazed and suitable for stone-curlews, and 46% has tree or shrub cover (Ball & Carruthers 1998), which is mostly suitable for the strong population of Purple-gaped Honeyeaters. Other IBA bird species are scattered across the island in coastal mallee, inland lagoons and along the coast. The island is mainly elevated ironstone plateau with a limestone coastal belt and stunted mallee woodland growing on impoverished soils. The island has a Mediterranean climate, with most of the mean annual rainfall of 500-900 mm falling in the winter. About half of the island has been cleared for grazing, with small areas under other agriculture or residential and tourism development. The island has 28 terrestrial protected areas covering over 116,000 ha (25% of the island) and additional marine protected areas.
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 extinct Kangaroo Island Emu was endemic to the island. There is an isolated population of a few hundred Glossy Black-Cockatoos and a number of other species which have become rare on the South Australian mainland (e.g. Osprey, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Painted Button-quail, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Southern Emu-wren, Beautiful Firetail and Bassian Thrush). Non-bird biodiversity: The Kangaroo Island Dunnart is endemic. The island supports important populations of Tammar Wallaby, Australian Sea-lion and New Zealand Fur-seal. 45 of the 1179 plant species recorded from the island are endemic.
Other site values: 25% is protected in national and conservation parks and Wilderness Protection Areas; the remaining land is privately owned. National parks are open to the public but permission must be obtained to access private holdings.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 45 | |
| Shrubland | 45 | |
| Forest | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Feral cats need to be controlled, especially around Fairy Tern colonies and Western Whipbird sites. Human access, especially vehicles, needs to be controlled on Hooded Plover and Fairy Tern beaches. Sub-divisions need to be regulated especially along the coast and in natural bushland. Fire management must consider impacts on threatened birds.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Ball, D. and Carruthers, S. (1998) Kangaroo Island Vegetation Mapping. Department for Transport, Urban Planning and the Arts: Adelaide. Baxter, C. (1995) An annotated list of the birds of Kangaroo Island. Department of Environment and Natural Resources: Adelaide. Copley, P.B. (1996). The status of seabirds in South Australia. Pp. 139-180. In: Ross, G.J.B., Weaver, K. and Greig, J.C. (eds) The Status of Australia's Seabirds. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia: Canberra. Dennis, T.E. and Masters, P. (2006) Long-term trends in the Hooded Plover Thinornis rubricollis population on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. South Australian Ornithologist 34: 258-266. Gates, J.A. (2002) An ecological study of Bush Stone-curlews Burhinus grallarius on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Unpublished MSc thesis. University of Adelaide. Willoughby N (2001) Biodiversity plan for Kangaroo Island. National Parks and Wildlife South Australia: Adelaide.
Contributors: The nomination was prepared by Chris Baxter.