Key Biodiversity Areas

Lake Grassmere (44598)
New Zealand, Australasia

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1aA1cD1a
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Lake Grassmere
Central coordinates: Latitude: -41.7220, Longitude: 174.1608
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 14.91522
Protected area coverage (%): 92.81
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


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: IBA Trigger species: Black-billed Gull, Black-fronted Tern, Wrybill Besides the trigger species the following are confirmed or likely to be breeding: Black Swan, Canada Goose, Paradise Shelduck, Grey Teal, Mallard, NZ Shoveler, NZ Scaup, Pied Stilt, Banded Dotterel, Black-fronted Dotterel, Spur-winged Plover, Southern Black-backed Gull, Caspian Tern, Rock Pigeon, NZ Kingfisher, Welcome Swallow, NZ Pipit, Silvereye, Skylark, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Cirl Bunting, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Redpoll, House Sparrow, Starling, Australian Magpie. Other species recorded: White-faced Heron, Australasian Harrier, South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Pacific Golden Plover, Turnstone, Red (Lesser) Knot, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Eastern Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Red-necked Phalarope, Red-billed Gull, White-fronted Tern, .

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Intertidal25
Marine Coastal/Supratidal25
Artificial - Aquatic25
Introduced Vegetation25

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Human disturbance – Yes - Anthropogenic disturbance due to multiple lake, river and riverbed users can impact on breeding and feeding seabirds and shorebirds. Predation by alien species – Yes - Feral cats, rats and hedgehogs are present within the site. Dogs can also be a problem. Trapping and riverbed group activities and presence can mitigate impacts Habitat loss or degradation – No Contamination – No Natural disaster – No Parasite or pathogen - No Other – No