Key Biodiversity Areas

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Aydıncık and Ovacık Coast (794)
Turkey, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Aydıncık ve Ovacık Kıyıları
Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.1333, Longitude: 33.3833
Elevation (m): 0 to 30
Area of KBA (km2): 264.12917
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: Two small islands near Aydýncýk on the Mediterranean coast. The larger is up to 30 m high and has steep barren cliffs on the eastern and western sides, whilst the northern and southern sides are gently sloping and vegetated. The smaller island is up to 5 m high and is fully vegetated.
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. KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017). Taxonomy, nomenclature and global threat category follow the 2016 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: In 1996 only 6 pairs of Larus audouinii bred on the small island, possibly as a result of increasing numbers of breeding Larus cachinnans.
Delineation rationale: Area changed from 2ha to 2102ha (Kiliç & Eken, 2004).

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (20%) | not utilised (80%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal100

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Goats intensively graze the islands during the winter. Fishermen and shepherds land frequently, causing disturbance to birds. The collection of gull (Laridae) eggs was considered to be a major threat in the past but recent reports indicate that this practice has now stopped.
Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Agriculture & aquacultureLivestock farming & ranchingAgro-industry grazing, ranching or farmingOngoing
Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesInvasive non-native/alien species/diseasesUnspecified speciesOngoing