Gosling Islands (29476)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Gosling Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -60.6419, Longitude: -45.9206
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 1.66478
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Gosling Islands are a small archipelago located several hundred metres off the southwestern coast of Coronation Island, west of Meier Point. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the concentration of seabirds present (in particular Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica)) and comprises the Gosling Islands and a nearby ice-free headland on the southwestern coast of Coronation Island. Information on the environment at the Gosling Islands is not available. The nearest research station is Signy (GBR), located 16 km southeast of the Gosling Islands. See IBA Signy Island for information on the environment and facilities at this station.
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 10 764 breeding pairs of Chinstrap Penguin were present on the Gosling Islands and adjacent ice-free areas on the southern shoreline of Coronation Island in 1984 (Poncet & Poncet 1985). Approximately 8523 Adélie Penguin ( Pygoscelis adeliae ) chicks and 874 Gentoo Penguin ( Pygoscelis papua ) nests were also recorded in the Gosling Islands area in 1984 (Poncet & Poncet 1985). 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: Poncet, S. & Poncet, J. 1985. A survey of penguin breeding populations at the South Orkney Islands, Antarctica. British Antarctic Survey Bulletin 68: 71-81.