Duroch Islands (29485)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Duroch Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -63.3048, Longitude: -57.8884
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 250
Area of KBA (km2): 9.19225
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Duroch Islands lie several hundred metres offshore from Cape Legoupil, northwestern Trinity Peninsula, northern Antarctic Peninsula. The island group includes Wisconsin Islands in the northeast and extends to Estay Rock in the southwest, and excludes Demas Rocks. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the large concentration of seabirds present (in particular penguins) and comprises all of the Duroch Islands and the intervening marine area. The nearest permanent scientific station is Bernardo O'Higgins (CHL), which has capacity for ~44 people and operates year-round ~200 m to the south at Cape Legoupil (COMNAP, Antarctic Facilities, accessed 20/08/2010).
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: Around 14 000 pairs of several penguin species breed in a number of groups on the Duroch Islands, with approximately 3500 pairs Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua), 800 pairs Adélie (P. adeliae), and 9400 pairs Chinstrap (P. antarctica) penguins recorded in 1990 (S. & J. Poncet pers. comm. cited in Woehler 1993). 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: Bernardo O'Higgins (CHL), with associated operational and support activities, is located in close proximity to the IBA.
Additional information
References: Woehler, E.J. (ed.) 1993. The distribution and abundance of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguins. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. Cambridge, UK.