Atriceps Island, Robertson Islands (29475)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Atriceps Island, Robertson Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -60.7916, Longitude: -45.1492
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 1.02151
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Atriceps Island lies at the southern extremity of the Robertson Islands group, South Orkney Islands. The Robertson Islands group is separated from the southernmost point of Coronation Island by Whale Bay and The Divide, and comprises (from north to south): Matthews Island, Coffer Island, Steepholm, Skilling Island and Atriceps Island. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax [atriceps] bransfieldensis) colony present and includes all of Atriceps Island. This small ice free island has a maximum elevation of less than 250 m. 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 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Additional biodiversity: Approximately 524 pairs of Imperial Shag were recorded breeding on Atriceps Island in 1988 (unpublished data S. Poncet pers. comm. 2005). Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: Island coastline where island is ≤ 5 km2.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.