Joubin Islands (29486)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Joubin Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -64.7718, Longitude: -64.4093
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 70
Area of KBA (km2): 22.16783
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Joubin Islands are an archipelago comprising numerous small islands, islets and offshore rocks situated ~5 km from Cape Monaco, southwestern Anvers Island. The Joubin Islands are designated as a Restricted Zone under Antarctic Specially Managed Area No. 7: Southwest Anvers Island and Palmer Basin, which includes the marine area extending to a 50 m buffer around the outer shorelines. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax [atriceps] bransfieldensis) colony present and covers the area defined by the boundary of the Restricted Zone. The geology of the Joubin Islands shares a granitic and volcanic origin with Anvers Island. Vegetation is typical of the region, and consists of a wide range of mosses, lichens and algae, as well as the native vascular plants (ASMA No. 7 Management Plan, 2009). The nearest permanent scientific station is Palmer (USA), situated ~15 km to the east at Arthur Harbour, southern Anvers Island. Climate data specifically for the Joubin Islands are not available. See IBA Cormorant Island for more information on Palmer Station and local climate.
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: Several bird species breed on the Joubin Islands, including the Imperial Shag, Adélie Penguin ( Pygoscelis adeliae ), Gentoo Penguin ( P. papua ), Chinstrap Penguin ( P. antarctica ) and Southern Giant Petrel ( Macronectes giganteus ). More than 250 pairs of Imperial Shag were recorded in the north of the Joubin Islands in 1987 (unpublished data S. Poncet pers. comm. 2005). Around 12 and 20 pairs of Southern Giant Petrel were recorded in 1997 and 1999 respectively (Patterson et al. 2008), typically breeding on the northeast aspect of high ridges on most islands (W. Fraser pers. comm. 2006). Penguins observed breeding at the site in 1990 comprised 1251 pairs Adélie, 33 pairs Chinstrap and 104 pairs Gentoo (S. & J. Poncet pers. comm. cited in Woehler 1993). Non-bird biodiversity: See IBA Cormorant Island for information on other species observed in the region.
Delineation rationale: Coincides with Restricted Zone boundary.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Designation of the Joubin Islands as a Restricted Zone under ASMA No. 7 provides controls and guidelines on visitor access. More information on these conditions, regional scientific programmes, and the broad conservation issues can be found under IBA Cormorant Island and in the Management Plan for ASMA No. 7.
Additional information
References: ASMA No. 7 Palmer Basin and Southwest Anvers Island: Management Plan (2009). Palmer LTER project URL: http://pal.lternet.edu/, accessed: 04/08/2010. Patterson, D.L., Woehler, E.J., Croxall, J.P., Cooper, J., Poncet, S., Peter, H.-U., Hunter, S. & Fraser, W.R. 2008. Breeding distribution and population status of the Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli and the Southern Giant Petrel M. giganteus. Marine Ornithology 36: 115-24. Woehler, E.J. (ed.) 1993. The distribution and abundance of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic penguins. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. Cambridge, UK.