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Site description (2015 baseline):
Site location and context
The Géologie Archipelago lies within several km of the northwestern extremity of Astrolabe Glacier, Terre Adélie. Part of the archipelago was designated with special protection in 1995 (ASPA No.120 Pointe Géologie), including Rostand Island, Le Mauguen (formerly Carrel) Island, Lamarck Island, Bernard Island, Bon Docteur Nunatak and the Emperor Penguin (
Aptenodytes forsteri) breeding area that exists on sea ice in the vicinity. ASPA No.120 was designated as a representative example of the terrestrial Antarctic ecosystem, recognising the high biological, geological and aesthetic values of the site, and a key aspect of these values is the presence of substantial numbers of breeding birds.
The IBA qualifies on the basis of the Emperor Penguin and Adélie Penguin (
Pygoscelis adeliae) colonies present at the site. The boundary of ASPA No.120 defines the extent of the IBA.
The nearest permanent station is Dumont d'Urville (FRA), located on Petrel Island ~0.5 km to the northwest and adjacent to the ASPA and IBA.
The Géologie Archipelago contains one of the most diverse bird communities found anywhere on the Antarctic continent, with eight breeding species present (Micol & Jouventin 2001). Approximately 3588 pairs of Emperor Penguin, 54 431 pairs of Adélie Penguin were estimated as breeding at Pointe Géologie in 2013 (Barbraud
et al. 2011; Barbraud, Delord, Weimerskirch, unpublished data: C. Barbraud pers. comm. 2014). While more than 60 pairs of South Polar Skua (
Catharacta maccormicki) breed on the islands of the Géologie Archipelago, only 36 pairs were breeding on the islands within the boundary of the IBA in 2012/13 (R. Phillips pers. comm. 2015).
Other breeding birds recorded throughout the ASPA / IBA in 2010/11 are as follows: Snow Petrel (
Pagodroma nivea) 369 pairs, Cape Petrel (
Daption capense) 322 pairs, and Wilson's Storm-petrel (
Oceanites oceanicus) 371 pairs (CEBC-CNRS unpublished data & Micol & Jouventin (2001), cited in ASPA No. 120 Management Plan 2011). Specific data on numbers of breeding pairs present by species on particular islands are given in the ASPA No.120 Management Plan (2011). ACAP (2010b) reported 8-9 pairs of Southern Giant Petrel (
Macronectes giganteus) at Pointe Géologie in 2005.
Non-bird biodiversity: Weddell Seals (
Leptonychotes weddellii) are reported to breed in the Géologie Archipelago area (ASPA No. 120 Management Plan 2011).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Table 3 of the ASPA No 120 Management Plan (2011) summarises population trends for breeding bird species at the Géologie Archipelago. Emperor Penguin and Southern Giant Petrel numbers decreased substantially during the construction phase of Dumont d'Urville station on Petrel Island in the early 1950s, and led to the permanent cessation of breeding by Southern Giant Petrels on Petrel Island. Overall, the trend for these species from 1952-84 was decline, although numbers for both species over the next 15 years (1984-2000) remained relatively stable at their lower levels. Over the period 1984-2011 numbers of Adélie Penguins, South Polar Skuas, Cape Petrels and Snow Petrels were either increasing or remained stable. Overall, Emperor Penguin and Southern Giant Petrel numbers today remain lower than their 1952 levels, Adélie Penguins and South Polar Skuas have increased, while Cape Petrels and Snow Petrels have remained stable.
The decline in Emperor Penguin numbers over the 1970s has been at least in part attributed to weather anomalies causing reductions in the extent of sea ice, on which the birds depend for breeding. Recently, sea ice extent has been increasing and Emperor Penguin numbers have also increased, although it is likely that other contributory factors are involved.
Dumont d'Urville Station accommodates a maximum of ~100 people in summer and ~30 people in winter. However, since 1995 access to the Emperor Penguin and principal breeding areas of other seabird species has been controlled by the ASPA management plan, so direct human disturbance to birds over this period has been limited mostly to those carrying out research and is considered low.
From 1987-94 an 1100 m airstrip was constructed at Dumont d'Urville Station, which involved major works to build a rock causeway linking several islands. The airstrip was controversial for its construction effects and its potential impact on local fauna, although it was severely damaged by high seas in 1994 and never became operational. As a result, conservation concerns related to the operation of the airstrip did not become manifest.
A number of tourists visit Dumont d'Urville Station by ship. Over the period 2003-14 visits were made in five seasons with an average of 313 visitors per visit. Most of those visiting landed at Dumont d'Urville (IAATO Tourism Statistics, accessed: 18/12/2014), although access to the principal bird breeding areas is prohibited.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Pointe Géologie (Antarctica). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/pointe-géologie-iba-antarctica on 26/12/2024.
