Robertson Islands (29464)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Robertson Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -60.7546, Longitude: -45.1469
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 500
Area of KBA (km2): 7.96179
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Matthews Island, Steepholm, Coffer Island and Skilling Island are part of the Robertson Islands group, South Orkney Islands. Matthews Island is the largest of the Robertson Islands, is partly covered in permanent ice and rises to over 250 m at two summits. Other islands in the group reach an altitude of less than 250 m and have no permanent ice. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) colony present and the high concentration of seabirds. The IBA comprises all islands and skerries lying north of Atriceps Island in the Robertson Islands group and the intervening marine area. See IBA Signy Island for information on meteorological records and facilities at Signy Station (GBR), which is located 25 km to the northwest.
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 35 000 breeding pairs of Chinstrap Penguins were recorded in the Robertson Islands in 1983, with 14 750 pairs on Matthews Island, 2100 pairs on Coffer Island, 11 500 pairs on two islands south of Matthews Island and 6520 pairs on Steepholm and Skilling Islands combined (Poncet & Poncet 1985). In addition, Snow Petrels (Pagodroma nivea) breed in the area of The Divide (Croxall et al. 1995), a narrow channel separating Matthews Island from Coronation Island at the northern limit of the IBA. Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: Shortest perimeter around islands and/or ice-free areas >5km2.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.
Additional information
References: Croxall, J.P., Steele, W.K, McInnes, S.J. & Prince, P.A. 1995. Breeding distribution of the Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea. Marine Ornithology 23: 69-99. Poncet, S. & Poncet, J. 1985. A survey of penguin breeding populations at the South Orkney Islands, Antarctica. British Antarctic Survey Bulletin 68: 71-81.