Pottinger Point, King George Island (29427)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Pottinger Point, King George Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -61.9359, Longitude: -58.3586
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 0.51475
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Pottinger Point is a low-lying ice-free promontory extending ~500 m on the northern coast of King George Island, between Stigant Point and False Round Point, and 2 km southeast of Kellick Island. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) colony present and comprises all of the ice-free ground at Pottinger Point. The nearest permanent scientific station is Comandante Ferraz (Brazil) which operates year-round on the northern shoreline of Admiralty Bay, located ~17 km to south, and which accommodates a maximum of ~40 people in the summer (COMNAP, Antarctic Facilities, accessed 24/08/2010).
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: Approximately 55 861 breeding pairs of Chinstrap Penguin were present at Pottinger Point in 1980 (Jablonski 1984). Shuford & Spear (1988b) reported an estimated 75 000 to 100 000 breeding pairs in January 1987. The colony at Pottinger Point is one of the largest in the South Shetland Islands. Information on other bird species in the area is not available. Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: Island coastline where island is ≤ 5 km2.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.
Additional information
References: Jablonski, B. 1984. Distribution and numbers of penguins in the region of King George Island (South Shetland Islands) in the breeding season 1980/81. Polish Polar Research 5:17-30. Shuford, W.D. & Spear, L.B. 1988b. Surveys of breeding Chinstrap Penguins in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. British Antarctic Survey Bulletin 81: 19-30.