Îles des Apôtres (6900)
French Southern Territories, Antarctica

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1b, A1c, A1d, B1, D1a

Year of last assessment: 2001

National site name: Îles des Apôtres

Central coordinates: Latitude: -45.9667, Longitude: 50.4500

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 292

Area of KBA (km²): 2.92187

Protected area coverage (%): 100.00

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: This site is located close to the Île aux Cochons, on the western side of the archipelago. It consists of a small group of eroded reefs and sheer islands. The main island is 3 km long. The steep coastal cliffs make access from the sea virtually impossible; they have therefore only very occasionally been visited by man. The site is free of any introduced animal species and is therefore in a largely unaltered state.

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: See Box for key species. At least 25 breeding species occur, notably including six species of albatross comprising Diomedea exulans (120 pairs), D. chrysostoma (180 pairs). D. melanophris (330 pairs), Phoebetria fusca (20–30 pairs) and 150 pairs of Phoebetria palpebrata. In addition, numbers of Pterodroma macroptera and P. mollis are believed to exceed thresholds, but no quantitative data are available. Also present are 2,000–9,000 pairs of both Halobaena caerulea and Procellaria aequinoctialis, and 20 pairs of Phalacrocorax atriceps melanogenis. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach.

Habitats

Land use: nature conservation and research | not utilised

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The whole of the Îles des Apôtres is a French Antarctic National Park to which access is restricted. It is also a proposed Nature Reserve.

Additional information