Inexpressible Island (45223)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Inexpressible Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -74.9002, Longitude: 163.7173
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 200
Area of KBA (km2): 3.65446
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Inexpressible Island, Victoria Land, is situated in Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea. The island is bounded in the east by Hells Gate and Evans Cove, and in the west by the Nansen Ice Sheet The eastern side of the island is relatively flat with a few low hills, while a ridge of ~110 m elevation runs along the western flank. Several lakes are present (PRIC & Tongji University 2014). The IBA qualifies on the basis of the South Polar Skua (Catharacta maccormicki) colony present and the concentration of seabirds (in particular Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)) and comprises an area of ice free ground on the eastern shore of Inexpressible Island. The nearest permanent stations are Mario Zucchelli (ITA) and Jang Bogo (KOR), situated ~30 km to the northeast. China has announced plans to construct a new station several kilometres to the south of the IBA (PRIC & Tongji University 2014).
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: An average of ~24 450 breeding pairs of Adélie Penguin were present each season from 1981 – 2012 (Lyver et al. 2014). Approximately 60 breeding pairs of South Polar Skuas were present on Inexpressible Island both within and near the vicinity of the IBA in 1982 (Ainley et al. 1986), although the precise breeding area has not been defined. Non-bird biodiversity: Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) have been observed on sea ice near Inexpressible Island (PRIC & Tongji University 2014).
Delineation rationale: 1.26 km radius around point, truncated at coastline.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Inexpressible Island is visited regularly by tourist ships, and from 2008–13 an average of 73 people per season landed (IAATO Tourism Statistics, accessed: 24/04/2014). China recently announced plans to establish a new permanent research station on ice free ground ~2 km to the south of the IBA. The shortest distance between the Adélie Penguin colony and the proposed station site is ~1.5 km (PRIC & Tongji University 2014). Helicopter, ships, vehicles and pedestrians are likely to operate in close proximity to the IBA, both during construction and when operational. China has expressed interest in establishing a new Antarctic Specially Protected Area (PRIC & Tongji University 2014), and if designated this should help protect the penguin colony.
Additional information
References: Ainley, D.G., Morrell, S.H., & Wood, R.C 1986. South Polar Skua breeding colonies in the Ross Sea region. Notornis 33: 155-63. Lyver, P.O'B., Barron, M., Barton, K.J., Ainley, D.G., Pollard, A., Gordon, S., McNeill, S., Ballard, G. & Wilson P.R. 2014. Trends in the breeding population of Adélie Penguins in the Ross Sea, 1981–2012: a coincidence of climate and resource extraction effects. PLoS ONE 9(3): e91188. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091188 PRIC (Polar Research Institute of China) & Tongji University. 2014. Proposed construction and operation of a new Chinese research station, Victoria Land, Antarctica. Draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation. Working Paper 016 presented to the ATCM XXXVII, 28 April – 07 May 2014, Brasília, Brazil.