Cape Evensen (29468)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Cape Evensen
Central coordinates: Latitude: -66.1452, Longitude: -65.6980
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 750
Area of KBA (km2): 0.27514
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Cape Evensen is located below Miller Heights on the Graham Coast of the central Antarctic Peninsula, in the region of Crystal Sound. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax [atriceps] bransfieldensis) colony present and comprises the ice-free ground ~1 km to the east of Cape Evensen. The IBA is 34 km southeast of IBA Island N of Dodman Island, and 36 km southeast of IBA Armstrong Reef. Steep slopes rise from the northern coastline to heights of up 750 m at the southern extent of this IBA. Information on the vegetation, soils or geology of the site is not available. The nearest permanent scientific station is Vernadsky (UKR), which is located 125 km northeast of Cape Evensen and operated year-round.
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: A colony of ~180 pairs of Imperial Shag was recorded as breeding on north-facing slopes ~1 km east of Cape Evensen alongside colonies of Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) and skua (Catharacta sp.) (unpublished data S. Poncet pers. comm. 2005). 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.