Amanda Bay (30102)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Amanda Bay
Central coordinates: Latitude: -69.2536, Longitude: 76.8475
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 17.15481
Protected area coverage (%): 98.37
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Amanda Bay is situated between Hovde Glacier and Flatnes Ice Tongue, southeastern Prydz Bay, Ingrid Christensen Coast, Princess Elizabeth Land. The bay is ~4 km wide and extends around the same distance inland. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) colony present, and includes all of Amanda Bay and the islands within. The IBA coincides with the boundary of ASPA No. 169. The nearest permanent stations are Zhongshan Station (CHN), Law-Racoviţă Station (ROU), and Progress II Station (RUS), and Bharati (IND), ~20 km to the southeast in the Larsemann Hills.
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: A large Emperor Penguin colony breeds within Amanda Bay, usually located on fast ice that persists near a rocky island in the southwestern part of the bay. Various population estimates were made at this colony in the past (Wienecke & Pedersen 2009). Fretwell et al. (2012) estimated 6831 adults based on satellite image analysis. However, B. Wienecke (pers. comm. Dec 2014) reported ~9700 chicks present in the same year, based on a more detailed photographic survey carried out in December 2009, suggesting the Fretwell et al. (2012) result is an underestimate. South Polar Skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) and Wilson's Storm-petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) are known to breed on the islands in Amanda Bay, although numbers are not known (ASPA No.169 Management Plan 2014). Adélie Penguins have been observed within the area (Todd et al. 1999) and a few dozen moult on the islands. Non-bird biodiversity: Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) regularly haul out in the area, particularly in southern Amanda Bay where sea ice is more stable (ASPA No.169 Management Plan 2014).
Delineation rationale: Coincides with ASPA boundary.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: From 2003-14 one tourist visit was made to Amanda Bay in 2007/08 when 66 visitors landed (IAATO Tourism Statistics, accessed: 18/12/2014). Access to Amanda Bay was restricted by permit under the management plan for ASPA No.169 in 2008 and visits are infrequent.
Additional information
References: ASPA No. 169 Amanda Bay, Ingrid Christensen Coast, Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica: Management Plan (2014). Cracknell, G.S. 1986. Population counts and observations at the Emperor penguin Aptenodytes forsteri colony at Amanda Bay, Antarctica. Emu 86: 113-17. Fretwell, P.T., LaRue, M.A., Morin P., Kooyman, G.L., Wienecke, B., Ratcliffe, N., Fox, A.J., Fleming, A.H., Porter, C. & Trathan, P.N. 2012. An Emperor Penguin population estimate: The first global, synoptic survey of a species from space. PLoS ONE 7(4): e33751. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0033751 Todd, F.S., Splettstoesser, J.F., Ledingham, R. & Gavrilo, M. 1999. Short Communication: Observations in some Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri colonies in East Antarctica. Emu 99: 142-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/MU99017A Wienecke, B. & Pedersen, P. 2009. Population estimates of Emperor Penguins at Amanda Bay, Ingrid Christensen Coast, Antarctica. Polar Record 45 (3): 207-14.