Cape Bowles, Clarence Island (29448)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Cape Bowles, Clarence Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -61.2930, Longitude: -54.0562
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 2.06401
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Clarence Island is the easternmost of the South Shetland Islands, lying 30 km east of Elephant Island. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) colony present and the large concentration of seabirds, and comprises the ice free headland of Cape Bowles, at the southeastern extremity of Clarence Island. The geology of Clarence Island is predominantly metamorphic of Mesozoic age (Marsh & Thomson 1985). No other information is available on the environment at this site. There are no research stations in the near vicinity, the closest being ~260 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 meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Approximately 58 500 breeding pairs of Chinstrap Penguin were estimated at a site referred to as ‘Pink Pool Point' on the eastern side of the headland, 33 000 breeding pairs were at Cape Bowles, and 20 000 at the site referred to as ‘Thunder Bay' at the western side of the headland in 1977 (Croxall & Kirkwood 1979). Approximately 119 pairs of Adélie ( Pygoscelis adeliae ) and 13 pairs of Macaroni ( Eudyptes chrysolophus ) penguins were reported at the site in 1976/77 (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. Marsh, P.D. & Thomson, J.W. 1985. Report on Antarctic Fieldwork. The Scotia Metamorphic Complex on Elephant Island and Clarence Island, South Shetland Islands. British Antarctic Survey Bulletin 69: 71-75.