Kazak Island / Zolotov Island (45190)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Kazak Island / Zolotov Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -68.6602, Longitude: 77.8623
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 46
Area of KBA (km2): 1.66767
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Kazak Island and Zolotov Island are situated 1 km south of Hawker Island (ASPA No. 167) and 0.5 km west of Mule Peninsula, in Prydz Bay on the Ingrid Christensen Coast, Princess Elizabeth Land. Kazak Island is ~ 0.6 km long and 0.45 km wide and rises to ~20 m. Zolotov Island is ~ 1.4 km long and up to 1.2 km wide and rises to ~46 m. Several small lakes are present on Zolotov Island (Australian Antarctic Data Centre 2012). The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) colonies present and comprises all of Kazak Island and Zolotov Island and the intervening marine area. The nearest permanent station is Davis (AUS), ~10 km to the northeast on Broad Peninsula, Vestfold Hills.
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: Whitehead & Johnstone (1990) estimated 5569 and 17 496 breeding pairs of Adélie Penguin on Kazak and Zolotov islands, respectively, in 1981/82. No recent census is available for the colonies. Breeding colonies occur along the western coast of Kazak Island, while on Zolotov Island extends from the northern to the southern coasts over the central part of the island. Non-bird biodiversity: None known.
Delineation rationale: Shortest perimeter around island groups and/or ice-free areas ≤ 5 km2, including marine areas as appropriate.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.
Additional information
References: Australian Antarctic Data Centre. 2012. Vestfold Hills Map 4 of 5, Scale 1: 50 000. Edition 6. Catalogue ID 13982. Whitehead, M.D. & Johnstone, G.W. 1990. The distribution and estimated abundance of Adélie Penguins breeding in Prydz Bay, Antarctica. NIPR Symposium on Polar Biology: 91-98.