Inaccessible Islands (29480)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Inaccessible Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -60.5811, Longitude: -46.6708
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 3.0458
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Inaccessible Islands are the most westerly of the South Orkney Islands. They are located 35 km west of Coronation Island and comprise three main islands and numerous offshore skerries. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Southern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialoides) colony present and comprises all islands and offshore rocks in the Inaccessible Islands group and the intervening marine area. The nearest research station is Signy (GBR), located 62 km southeast of the IBA. 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 meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Southern Fulmar are the most abundant bird species present at the Inaccessible Islands, with tens of thousands of pairs recorded breeding on the northern coast of islands and islets in 1986 (unpublished data S. Poncet pers. comm. 2005). Ardley (1936) estimated that “not less than half a million” Southern Fulmar nests occupied “top to bottom” of the northern cliffs of the three main islands in Jan 1933. Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) also breed on the larger islands, and approximately 1000 breeding pairs were recorded in 1986 (S. Poncet pers. comm. 2005; also noted by Ardley 1936). Approximately 100 breeding pairs of Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax [atriceps] bransfieldensis) were also recorded on the northern coast of the more southerly of the large islands in the Inaccessible Islands group in 1986, and this colony was also reported by Ardley (1936). 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: Ardley, R.A.B. 1936. The birds of the South Orkney Islands. Discovery Reports 12: 349-76.