Cape Wallace, Low Island (29447)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Cape Wallace, Low Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -63.2399, Longitude: -62.2009
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 2.45946
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 Wallace is a rocky headland extending around 3 km at the northwestern extremity of Low Island. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) colony present and includes the ice free area on northern coast of Cape Wallace. The nearest permanent scientific stations to Cape Wallace are Decepción (ARG) and Gabriel de Castilla (ESP), located ~80 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: Approximately 75 000 to 150 000 breeding pairs of Chinstrap Penguin were estimated at Cape Wallace in 1987 (Shuford & Spear 1988b), making it the largest colony on Low Island and one of the largest in the region. A small group of ~250 breeding pairs of Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) were nesting close to the Chinstraps in 1987 (Shuford & Spear 1988a). A further 25 000 to 50 000 breeding pairs of Chinstrap Penguin were estimated at a bluff south of Cape Wallace and 25 000 pairs were estimated at an island north-east of Cape Wallace (Shuford & Spear 1988b). Cape Petrel (Daption capense) and Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) are known to breed at Cape Wallace (Hodum et al. 2004; Patterson et al. 2008). Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: Shortest perimeter around island groups and/or ice-free areas ≤ 5 km2, including marine areas as appropriate.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.
Additional information
References: ASPA No. 152 Western Bransfield Strait: Management Plan (2010). Hodum, P., Croxall, J.P., Poncet, S. & Woehler, E. 2004. Breeding distribution of the Cape Petrel Daption capense. Unpublished draft manuscript. Patterson, D.L., Woehler, E.J., Croxall, J.P., Cooper, J., Poncet, S., Peter, H.-U., Hunter, S. & Fraser, W.R. 2008. Breeding distribution and population status of the Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli and the Southern Giant Petrel M. giganteus. Marine Ornithology 36: 115-24. 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.