Chinstrap Cove, Clarence Island (29432)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Chinstrap Cove, Clarence Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -61.2335, Longitude: -54.1630
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 0.65331
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Clarence Island is the easternmost of the South Shetland Islands, lying 30 km east of Elephant Island. Chinstrap Cove lies on the western shore of Clarence Island. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the concentration of seabirds present (in particular Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica)), and comprises all of the ice-free area south of Chinstrap Cove, extending around 2 km southwards along the coastline of Clarence Island. Information on the environment at this site is not available. There are no research stations in the near vicinity, the closest being around 250 km to the southwest, on King George Island.
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 19 500 pairs of Chinstrap and 770 pairs of Macaroni ( Eudyptes chrysolophus ) penguins were breeding on the ice-free area at the southern entrance point of Chinstrap Cove in 1977 (Croxall & Kirkwood 1979). Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: If ice-free area is ≤ 5 km2 then ice-free area is used as boundary.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.
Additional information
References: Croxall, J.P. & Kirkwood, E.D. 1979. The distribution of penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula and Islands of the Scotia Sea. British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge.