Dawson-Lambton Glacier (30125)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Dawson-Lambton Glacier
Central coordinates: Latitude: -76.0701, Longitude: -26.6548
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 5.06265
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Dawson-Lambton Glacier flows into the southeastern Weddell Sea at the southwestern margin of the Brunt Ice Shelf, on the Caird Coast, Coats Land. An Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) colony breeds on fast ice that forms in the Weddell Sea near the Dawson-Lambton-Glacier. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Emperor Penguin colony present at the site and is entirely marine. The nearest permanent station is Halley VI (GBR), ~50 km to the north on Brunt Ice Shelf.
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: The colony near the Dawson-Lambton Glacier was discovered in 1987 during an aerial survey by Hempel & Stonehouse (1987), who estimated 11 700 chicks were present. No photographs were taken so the estimate could not be verified. Analysis of a satellite image acquired 13 Oct 2009 (Fretwell et al. 2012) indicated 2597 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.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.
Additional information
References: 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: 227-20.