Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf (30149)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf
Central coordinates: Latitude: -72.1229, Longitude: -15.1063
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 4.76773
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf extends ~400 km between Cape Norvegia and Lyddan Island, on the Princess Martha Coast, Dronning Maud Land. An Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) colony breeds on fast ice on the northern coast of the Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf, ~90 km southwest of Seal Bay and ~140 km northeast of Cape Vestkapp. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Emperor Penguin colony present and is entirely marine. There are no research stations nearby. The summer stations Aboa (FIN) and Wasa (SWE) are situated ~120 km to the southeast at Basen Nunatak in the Vestfjella Mountains.
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: Hempel & Stonehouse (1987) estimated ~5000 Emperor penguin chicks were present at the colony near the Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf from an aerial survey conducted in late 1986. Analysis of a satellite image acquired 27 Oct 2009 (Fretwell et al. 2012) indicated that approximately 4013 Emperor Penguins were present at the colony, although image quality was rated as only Fair. 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: 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: 227-220.