Peterson Island (45246)
Antarctica, Antarctica
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2015
National site name: Peterson Island
Central coordinates: Latitude: -66.4583, Longitude: 110.5002
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 60
Area of KBA (km2): 3.96558
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Peterson Island is situated in the southern Windmill Islands, Budd Coast, Wilkes Land. The island is ~3.5 km long and up to 2 km wide, and is separated from Browning Peninsula by a narrow channel of ~200-400 m width. The island has rocky, undulating topography rising to ~60 m and is mostly ice free in summer. A large narrow inlet extends several km from the northern coast southward into the interior of the island, and several small lakes are present in the south. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) colony present and includes all of Peterson Island and the central inlet. The nearest permanent station is Casey (AUS), ~19 km to the north on Bailey 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: Woehler et al. (1991) counted 20 453 breeding pairs of Adélie Penguin on Peterson Island in 1989/90, and noted the colony had been increasing since counts were first made in 1961. More recently, ~30 448 breeding pairs (95% CI 18 516, 50 020) of Adélie Penguin were present on Peterson Island as estimated from January 2011 satellite imagery (Lynch & LaRue 2014). While this more recent count suggests an increase by ~50% over 21 years, it is not clear whether this apparent change relates to inter-seasonal fluctuations, methodological differences, or represents a real increase in the local Adélie Penguin population. Olivier, Lee & Woehler (2004) estimated 2815 breeding pairs of Snow Petrels (Pagodroma nivea) on Peterson Island in 2002/03, and this represents one of the largest colonies yet identified. Around 10 breeding pairs of Cape Petrels (Daption capense) were estimated present on the island in 1996 (Hodum et al. 2004). Southern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialoides), South Polar Skuas (Catharacta maccormicki) and Wilson's Storm-petrels (Oceanites oceanicus) also breed on the island (Murray & Luders 1990; Australian Antarctic Data Centre 2012) although numbers are not known. Non-bird biodiversity: Southern Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina) haul out and also breed on Peterson Island (Murray & Luders 1990), mainly on the northern and northwestern coasts. The colony is the most southerly known breeding site for Southern Elephant Seals (McMahon & Campbell 2000).
Delineation rationale: Island coastline where island is ≤ 5 km2.
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: None known.
Additional information
References: Australian Antarctic Data Centre. 2012. Windmill Islands Map 3 of 5, Scale 1: 50 000. Edition 6. Catalogue ID 14112. Hodum, P., Croxall, J.P., Poncet, S. & Woehler, E. 2004. Breeding distribution of the Cape Petrel Daption capense. Unpublished draft manuscript. 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 McMahon, C.R. & Campbell, D. 2000. Southern elephant seals breeding at Peterson Island, Antarctica. Polar Record 36(196): 51. Murray, M.D. & Luders, D.J. 1990. Faunistic studies at the Windmill Islands, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica, 1959-80. ANARE Research Notes 73 (IV): 1-45. Olivier, F., Lee, A.V. & Woehler, E.J. 2004. Distribution and abundance of Snow Petrels Pagodroma nivea in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica. Polar Biology 27: 257-65. doi:10.1007/s00300-004-0595-3 Woehler, E.J., Slip, D.J., Robertson, L.M., Fullagar, P.J. & Burton, H.R. 1991. The distribution, abundance and status of Adélie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae at the Windmill Islands, Wilkes Land, Antarctica. Marine Ornithology 19(1): 1-18.