Thurston Glacier (45237)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Thurston Glacier
Central coordinates: Latitude: -73.4999, Longitude: -125.6069
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 2.93255
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Thurston Glacier descends from Mount Siple, draining the northern slopes of Siple Island, which is adjacent to the Getz Ice Shelf on the Bakutis Coast, Marie Byrd Land. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) colony present and comprises the marine area and fast ice that forms near the terminus of Thurston Glacier. There are no research stations nearby. The closest permanent stations are Rothera (GBR) and San Martín (ARG), in Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, ~1800 km to the east.
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: Analysis of a satellite image acquired 17 Oct 2009 (Fretwell et al. 2012) indicated that approximately 2989 Emperor Penguins were present at the colony. 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