Macquarie Island (23992)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, B1, B2, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Macquarie Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -54.6265, Longitude: 158.8827
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 410
Area of KBA (km2): 123.2315
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Macquarie Island is a sub-antarctic island located approximately halfway between Antarctica and Australia, 1466 km south-east of Tasmania and 1294 km north of the Antarctic continent. The IBA includes the whole island and the nearby Judge and Clerk Islets and Bishop and Clerk Islets. The island lies just to the north of an oceanic boundary, the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone or Antarctic Convergence, where cold polar waters meet warmer sub-antarctic waters. The island is 34 km long and up to 5 km wide and consists of a long plateau, 200-350 m above sea level, surrounded on all sides by steep slopes or cliffs. Mean temperatures for summer and winter are 7oC and 3oC respectively, and annual mean rainfall is approximately 900mm and falls an average of 310 days each year. Severe earthquakes occur once a decade and landslips are common on steep coastal slopes, the latter due to soil instability caused by overgrazing by rabbits. Management is funded by the Tasmanian State and Commonwealth governments and the Australian Antarctic Division, and up to 50 scientists and support people and a number of tourist vessels visit the island each year. The island has suffered from several introduced species; cats were eradicated in 2000 but this has led to an increase in the numbers of rabbits which are now due to be eradicated. The islands and seas to three nautical miles are a Nature Reserve; the islands and seas to 12 nautical miles are a World Heritage Area; and 162,000 km2 of seas to the east are in the Macquarie Island Marine Park.
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: Other nesting seabirds include around 660 pairs of the endemic subspecies of Imperial Shag Phalacrocorax albiventer purpurascens, about 49,000 pairs of Antarctic Prion in 1975-1982 (the 1% threshold is 500,000 pairs), small numbers of Fairy Prion and Common Diving-Petrel, unknown numbers of Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (on Bishop and Clerk Islets), Grey Petrel (small numbers re-established after cat eradication in 2000), Blue Petrel (500-600 pairs in 1975-1982), Kelp Gull (low numbers), Sooty Shearwater (1777 burrows counted in 1975-1982 (Brothers 1984) and 50-1000 pairs estimated by Parks and Wildlife Service (2006)) and Antarctic Tern (24 pairs in latest survey); and Soft-plumaged Petrel and Grey-backed Storm-Petrel probably breed. The only other native bird, Pacific Black Duck, is hybridising with introduced Mallards. The Redpoll and Common Starling are considered to be self-introduced aliens (from introduced populations in New Zealand) and are widespread on the island. Wekas were introduced but were eradicated in the 1980s. Non-bird biodiversity: A breeding ground for approximately 100,000 seals: southern elephant seal, subantarctic fur seal, Antarctic fur seal and New Zealand fur seal; 45 recorded species of vascular plants (but no true woody plants), around 150 bryophytes, over 150 lichens, more than 260 fungi (excluding microfungi), 25 slime molds, at least 120 freshwater algae, and 110 marine and littoral algae.
Other site values: Tasmanian Government with management the responsibility of Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service. Access to the island, including tourist ships, is regulated by the Parks and Wildlife Service.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 67 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 33 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Ensure that current rabbit and rodent eradication is fully funded and implemented efficiently. Maintain strong quarantine measures.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Bergstrom, D.M, Lucieer, A., Kiefer, K., Wasley, J., Belbin, L., Pedersen, T.K. and Chown, S.L. (2009) Indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island. Journal of Applied Ecology 46: 73–81. Brothers, N.P. (1984) Breeding distribution and status of burrow-nesting petrels at Macquarie Island. Australian Wildlife Research 11. 113-131. Carmichael, N. (2007) Macquarie Island, its conservation and management. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 141: 11-17. Copson, G.R. and Rounsevell, D.E. (1987) The abundance of Royal Penguins (Eudyptes schlegeli, Finsch) breeding at Macquarie Island. ANARE Research Notes 41. Gales, R. (1998). Albatross populations: status and threats. Pp. 20-45. In: Robertson, G. and Gales, R. (Eds) Albatross Biology and Conservation. Surrey Beatty: Sydney. Parks and Wildlife Service (2006) Macquarie Island Nature Reserve and World Heritage Area Management Plan. Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Tourism, Arts and the Environment: Hobart. Parks and Wildlife Service (2008). Macquarie Island Rabbit and rodent eradication plan. http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/factsheets/parks_and_places/MacquarieIslandRabbits.pdf accessed May 2008. Pemberton D. and Gales R. (1987) Notes on the status and breeding of imperial cormorants Phalacrocorax atriceps at Heard Island. Cormorant 15. 33-40. Skira, I.J. (1984) Breeding distribution of the Brown Skua on Macquarie Island. Emu 84: 248-249. Terauds, A. (2000). Status and conservation of albatrosses and giant petrels on Macquarie Island. Report on 1999/2000 field season and summary of research to date: 1994/95–1999/00. Report to Environment Australia. Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment: Hobart. Terauds, A., Gales, R. and Alderman, R. (2005) Trends in numbers and survival of Black-browed (Thalassarche melanophrys) and Grey-eaded (T. chrysostoma) Albatrosses breeding on Macquarie Island. Emu 105: 159-167. Terauds, A., Gales, R., Baker, G.B. and Alderman, R. (2006) Population and survival trends of Wandering Albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) breeding on Macquarie Island. Emu 106: 211-218. Woehler, E.J. (1991) Status and conservation of the seabirds of Heard Island and the McDonald Islands. Pp. 263-275 in Croxall, J.P., (Ed.) Seabird status and conservation: a supplement. ICBP Technical Publication 11. International Council for Bird Preservation: Cambridge, U.K. Woehler, E.J., Riddle M.J. and Ribic, C.A. (2003) Long term population trends in Southern Giant Petrels in East Antarctica. Pp. 290-295. In: Huiskes, A.H.L., Gieskes, W.W.C., Rozema, J., Schorno, R.M.L., van der Vies, S.M. and Wolff, W.J. (Eds) Antarctic Biology in a Global Context. Backhuys Publishers: Leiden, The Netherlands.
Contributors: The nomination was prepared by Birds Australia with assistance from Rachael Alderman, Rosemary Gales and Eric Woehler who provided data and comments.