Schaefer Islands (45241)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Schaefer Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: -73.6484, Longitude: -103.2310
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 2.99925
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Schaefer Islands are situated southwest of the northern extremity of Canisteo Peninsula, which projects into the eastern Amundsen Sea between Ferrero and Cranton Bays on the Walgreen Coast, Marie Byrd Land. Schaefer Islands are situated ~4 km south of Lindsey Islands. The island group consists of one larger island, ~0.5 km by ~1 km, and several smaller islands and islets. The islands are relatively flat and mostly ice free during summer. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the concentration of seabirds present (in particular Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)) and comprises all of the Schaefer Islands group and the intervening marine area. There are no research stations nearby. The closest permanent stations are Rothera (GBR) and San Martín (ARG), located approximately 1420 km to the northeast in Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula.
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: Approximately 28 033 breeding pairs (CI not available) of Adélie Penguin were present on Schaefer Islands as estimated from March 2011 satellite imagery (unpublished data, H. Lynch & M. LaRue pers. comm. 2014). The colony breeds on most of the larger islands, mostly on the northern coast. No other birds are known to breed in the area. Non-bird biodiversity: No information on other wildlife in the area is available. However, given its close proximity to Lindsey Islands (IBA ANT204) where Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) and Leopard Seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) occur (Lindsey 1995), these species are also likely to be observed in the Schaefer Islands area.
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: Lindsey, A.A. 1995. The exploration history of the Lindsey Islands, Antarctica, 1928-1994. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 104: 85-92. Lynch, H.J. & LaRue, M.A. 2014. First global census of the Adélie Penguin. The Auk 131(4): 457-66. doi:10.1642/AUK-14-31.1