Cape Garry, Low Island (29443)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Cape Garry, Low Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -63.3550, Longitude: -62.2644
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 0.98171
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Low Island is the southernmost of the South Shetland Islands, and is situated in the western region of Bransfield Strait. Cape Garry lies at the southwest extremity of Low Island and is a small, largely ice-covered headland about 1.5 km in length. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) colony present and includes the ice free area of Cape Garry. The coastline of Low Island forms the northeastern boundary of ASPA No. 152, recognised as an important site of long-term scientific research on several fish species, including Black Rockcod (Notothenia coriiceps) and the icefish Chaenocephalus aceratus (ASPA No. 152 Management Plan, 2003). The IBA lies outside of the ASPA. The nearest permanent scientific stations to Cape Garry are Decepción (ARG) and Gabriel de Castilla (ESP), located ~90 km to the northeast at Deception Island. These summer-only stations have a combined capacity of 90 people.
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: Around 100 000 pairs of Chinstrap Penguin breed at Cape Garry (Shuford & Spear 1988b), constituting the second largest Chinstrap colony on Low Island, the largest being at Cape Wallace. A small number of Imperial Shags (Phalacrocorax [atriceps] bransfieldensis) breed close to the Chinstraps, constituting 10 pairs in 1987 (Shuford & Spear 1988a). 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: ASPA No. 152 Western Bransfield Strait: Management Plan (2010). Shuford, W.D. & Spear, L.B. 1988a. Surveys of breeding penguins and other seabirds in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, January-February 1987. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-59. 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.