Key Biodiversity Areas

Gourdin Island (29438)
Antarctica, Antarctica

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Gourdin Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -63.1985, Longitude: -57.3028
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 0.60578
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: Gourdin Island is the largest of a group of islands lying 1.2 km north of Prime Head, northern Trinity Peninsula. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the large concentration of seabirds present (in particular Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)) and comprises all of Gourdin Island. The permanent scientific stations Esperanza (ARG) and Teniente de Navio Ruperto Elichiribehety (URY), are both located 28 km southeast in Hope Bay, and General Bernando Higgins (CHL) is situated 34 km southwest at Cape Legoupil, Trinity Peninsula.
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: Naveen (2003) estimated the Adélie Penguin colony breeding on the northwestern end of Gourdin Island in 1997 comprised 14 334 pairs, along with 568 pairs of Gentoo Penguin ( Pygoscelis papua ) and 3282 pairs of Chinstrap Penguin ( P. antarctica ). Occasional visitors to the area include Snowy Sheathbill ( Chionis albus ), Brown Skua ( Catharacta antarctica ) and Kelp Gull ( Larus dominicanus ) (Naveen & Lynch 2011). Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: Island coastline where island is ≤ 5 km2.

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Gourdin Island receives an annual average of around 890 visitors (including tourists, staff and crew) (IAATO Tourism Statistics 2005-10, accessed: 06/08/2010).

Additional information

References: Naveen, R. 2003. Compendium of Antarctic Peninsula visitor sites (2nd edition): A Report to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Oceanites, Chevy Chase, MD. 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.