Islet east of Guépratte Island (29414)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Islet east of Guépratte Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -64.4935, Longitude: -62.9559
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 0.05938
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A large colony of Imperial Shags (Phalacrocorax [atriceps] bransfieldensis) is located on a small islet ~1.5 km east of Guépratte Island, Fournier Bay, ~1 km north of Parker Peninsula on the northeastern coast of Anvers Island, Palmer Archipelago. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Imperial Shag colony present and is defined by the coastline of the islet on which the birds breed. The nearest scientific station is Melchior (ARG), located on Melchior Island ~20 km to the north.
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Additional biodiversity: Approximately 220 breeding pairs of Imperial Shag were recorded at this site in 1987 (unpublished data S. Poncet pers. comm. 2005). Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: Island coastline where island is ≤ 5 km2.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Gerlache Strait is one of the areas on the Antarctic Peninsula that is most intensively visited by tour vessels (Lynch et al. 2009), although the extent of landings and zodiac cruising at IBA ANT084 is unknown.
Additional information
References: Lynch, H.J., Crosbie, K., Fagan, W.F. & Naveen, R. 2009. Spatial patterns of tour ship traffic in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Antarctic Science 22 (2): 123-30.