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Site description (2015 baseline)

The Joubin Islands are an archipelago comprising numerous small islands, islets and offshore rocks situated ~5 km from Cape Monaco, southwestern Anvers Island.

The Joubin Islands are designated as a Restricted Zone under Antarctic Specially Managed Area No. 7: Southwest Anvers Island and Palmer Basin, which includes the marine area extending to a 50 m buffer around the outer shorelines. The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax [atriceps] bransfieldensis) colony present and covers the area defined by the boundary of the Restricted Zone.

The geology of the Joubin Islands shares a granitic and volcanic origin with Anvers Island. Vegetation is typical of the region, and consists of a wide range of mosses, lichens and algae, as well as the native vascular plants (ASMA No. 7 Management Plan, 2009).

The nearest permanent scientific station is Palmer (USA), situated ~15 km to the east at Arthur Harbour, southern Anvers Island. Climate data specifically for the Joubin Islands are not available. See IBA Cormorant Island for more information on Palmer Station and local climate.

Key biodiversity

Several bird species breed on the Joubin Islands, including the Imperial Shag, Adélie Penguin ( Pygoscelis adeliae ), Gentoo Penguin ( P. papua ), Chinstrap Penguin ( P. antarctica ) and Southern Giant Petrel ( Macronectes giganteus ). More than 250 pairs of Imperial Shag were recorded in the north of the Joubin Islands in 1987 (unpublished data S. Poncet pers. comm. 2005). Around 12 and 20 pairs of Southern Giant Petrel were recorded in 1997 and 1999 respectively (Patterson et al. 2008), typically breeding on the northeast aspect of high ridges on most islands (W. Fraser pers. comm. 2006). Penguins observed breeding at the site in 1990 comprised 1251 pairs Adélie, 33 pairs Chinstrap and 104 pairs Gentoo (S. & J. Poncet pers. comm. cited in Woehler 1993).

Non-bird biodiversity: See IBA Cormorant Island for information on other species observed in the region.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Joubin Islands (Antarctica). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/joubin-islands-iba-antarctica on 23/12/2024.