Cuverville Island (29434)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Cuverville Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -64.6865, Longitude: -62.6231
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 0.8138
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Cuverville Island is a small island lying in the Errera Channel between Rongé Island and Arctowski Peninsula (Graham Land). A permanent ice-cap extends over much of the island, although on the northern slopes there is a series of broad, rocky beaches below steep cliffs. The rocky areas provide suitable breeding sites for penguins. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) colony present and is defined by the island coastline. Vegetation consists of a range of moss and lichen species as well as the native Antarctic Hairgrass (Deschampsia antarctica) and Antarctic Pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis) (ATS Visitor Site Guidelines: Cuverville Island). The nearest scientific station is Gabriel Gonzáles Videla station (CHL), a summer-only facility in Paradise Cove with capacity for up to nine people (COMNAP, Antarctic Facilities, accessed 16/08/2010).
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: Gentoo Penguins breed along the north and northwest shoreline of Cuverville Island, with 6468 pairs recorded in December 2009 (H. Lynch pers. comm. 2010). More recently, 5950 breeding pairs of Gentoo Penguin were reported by the Antarctic Site Inventory in December 2012 (Lynch et al. 2013). The colony is the largest for this species on the Antarctic Peninsula. Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax [atriceps] bransfieldensis) breed on the island with 29 pairs recorded on the northeast coast of the island in 2006 (Lynch et al. 2008). More recently, 49 breeding pairs of Imperial Shag were reported by the Antarctic Site Inventory in February 2013 (R. Naveen and H. Lynch pers. comm. 2014). Other confirmed breeders include Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus), South Polar Skua (Catharacta maccormicki), Brown Skua (C. antarctica), Wilson's Storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) and Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata) (Naveen & Lynch 2011). Non-bird biodiversity: Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) and Antarctic Fur Seals (Arctocephalus gazella) are common at Cuverville Island, while Leopard Seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) have been observed off-shore (ATS Visitor Site Guidelines: Cuverville Island).
Delineation rationale: Island coastline where island is ≤ 5 km2.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Cuverville Island is a popular tourist destination, and lies within the area on the Antarctic Peninsula that is visited most intensively by tour vessels (Lynch et al. 2009). ATS Visitor Site Guidelines provide guidance for tour visits.
Additional information
References: Antarctic Treaty System Visitor Site Guidelines, Cuverville Island: URL: http://www.ats.aq/siteguidelines/documents/Cuverville_e.pdf. Accessed: 10/08/2010. 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. Lynch, H., Naveen, R. & Fagan, W. 2008. Censuses of Penguin, Blue-eyed Shag Phalacrocorax atriceps and Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus populations on the Antarctic Peninsula, 2001-2007. Marine Ornithology 36: 83-97. Lynch, H.J., Naveen, R. & Casanovas, P.V. 2013. Antarctic Site Inventory breeding bird survey data 1994 – 2013. Ecology (Data Paper) 94(11): 2653. doi: 10.1890/13-1108.1 Naveen, R. & Lynch, H. 2011. Compendium of Antarctic Peninsula visitor sites (3rd edition): A Report to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Oceanites, Chevy Chase, MD.