Atka Iceport (30106)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Atka Iceport
Central coordinates: Latitude: -70.6124, Longitude: -8.1237
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 4.24567
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Atka Iceport is situated on the eastern coast of the Ekström Ice Shelf, Princess Martha Coast, Dronning Maud Land, ~10 km from its northerly terminus. The feature is a dynamic but persistent series of large cracks in the ice shelf that form embayments, and was used as a mooring in 1955 by the USS Atka, after which the feature was named. An Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) colony breeds along the coast where the cracks in the ice shelf occur and sea ice frequently persists. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Emperor Penguin colony present and is entirely marine. The nearest permanent station is Neumayer III (DEU) ~10 km south on the Ekström Ice Shelf.
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: Hempel & Stonehouse (1987) estimated ~8000 Emperor penguin chicks were present at the colony near Atka Iceport from an aerial survey conducted in late 1986. Recently, a photographic count in December 2007 estimated 11,000 chicks present at the colony (van Franeker et al. 2010). Analysis of a satellite image acquired 08 Sept 2009 (Fretwell et al. 2012) indicated that approximately 9657 Emperor Penguins were present at the colony. No other birds are known to breed in the area. Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: 1.26 km radius around point, truncated at coastline.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Neumayer III Station (DEU), with associated operational and support activities, is located in close proximity to the IBA. Visits by tourists appear to be minimal: only one tourist visit to the Atka Iceport area was reported in the 10 years between 2004-14, with 116 visitors landing in the 2010-11 season (IAATO Tourism Statistics, accessed: 18/12/2014).
Additional information
References: Drescher, H.-E. 1982. Untersuchungen zur Säugetierbiologie and Ornitologie während der Filchner-Schelfeis-Expedition 1980/81. Berichte zur Polarforschung 1: 33. 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 Hempel, G. & Stonehouse, B. 1987. Aerial counts of penguins, seals and whales in the eastern Weddell Sea. Berichte zur Polarforschung 39: 227-220.