Key Biodiversity Areas

Millenium (Caroline) Island Marine (31025)
Kiribati, Oceania

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2012
National site name: Millenium (Caroline) Island Marine
Central coordinates: Latitude: -9.9578, Longitude: -150.2158
System: marine
Area of KBA (km2): 64856.20092
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: The site boundary is based upon a seaward extension of 140 km around Millenium (Caroline) Island to encompass the foraging range of IBA threshold numbers of Greater Frigatebird based upon a 1988 population estimate of 4,854 breeding pairs, Black Noddy based upon a 1988 population estimate of 16,794 breeding pairs, Common White Tern based upon a 1988 population estimate of 11,482 breeding pairs, Red-footed Booby based upon a 1988 population estimate of 4,442 breeding pairs and high use and transit areas of Red-tailed Tropicbird based upon a 1988 population estimate of 112 breeding pairs from Kepler, C., Kepler, A. and Ellis, D. (1994) The natural history of Caroline Atoll, Southern Line Islands, part II: Seabirds, other terrestrial animals, and conservation. Atoll Research Bulletin, 398: 1-61.
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: The site boundary is based upon a seaward extension of 140 km around Millenium (Caroline) Island to encompass the foraging range of IBA threshold numbers of Greater Frigatebird based upon a 1988 population estimate of 4,854 breeding pairs, Black Noddy based upon a 1988 population estimate of 16,794 breeding pairs, Common White Tern based upon a 1988 population estimate of 11,482 breeding pairs, Red-footed Booby based upon a 1988 population estimate of 4,442 breeding pairs and high use and transit areas of Red-tailed Tropicbird based upon a 1988 population estimate of 112 breeding pairs from Kepler, C., Kepler, A. and Ellis, D. (1994) The natural history of Caroline Atoll, Southern Line Islands, part II: Seabirds, other terrestrial animals, and conservation. Atoll Research Bulletin, 398: 1-61.
Delineation rationale: The site boundary is based upon a seaward extension of 140 km around Millenium (Caroline) Island to encompass the foraging range of IBA threshold numbers of Greater Frigatebird based upon a 1988 population estimate of 4,854 breeding pairs, Black Noddy based upon a 1988 population estimate of 16,794 breeding pairs, Common White Tern based upon a 1988 population estimate of 11,482 breeding pairs, Red-footed Booby based upon a 1988 population estimate of 4,442 breeding pairs and high use and transit areas of Red-tailed Tropicbird based upon a 1988 population estimate of 112 breeding pairs from Kepler, C., Kepler, A. and Ellis, D. (1994) The natural history of Caroline Atoll, Southern Line Islands, part II: Seabirds, other terrestrial animals, and conservation. Atoll Research Bulletin, 398: 1-61. Mark O'Brien 7th April, 2014. Note that the numbers given here are twice the true numbers on site due to an error in the import. Correct figures are in the Species at Site, IBA section.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Neritic100

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
PollutionIndustrial & military effluentsOil spillsOngoing
Climate change & severe weatherHabitat shifting & alterationOnly in the future