Cuverville Island (CUVE)
64˚41’S, 62˚38’W Magnetic declination: 15.5˚E Inventory subarea: NW Inventory acronym: CUVE Site Sensitivity: LOW Location — History — Features A rocky island with extensive moss cover at higher elevations, lying in the Errera Channel between Arctowski Peninsula and the N part of Rongé Island, off the W coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It was discovered by Gerlache’s Belgian Antarctic expedition (1897-99), and named by Charcot for a vice-admiral in the French Navy. Nearly vertical cliffs surround the island except on the NE coast, where a gently sloping apron of bedrock extends 200 meters from the shore to the base of the cliffs. Much of the apron on the NE side of the island may remain snow-covered through much of December. Large, bare rock areas of this platform provide nesting sites for gentoo penguins. The surface occupied by the penguins, although largely on bedrock or raised beach deposits, is covered with guano, mud, and other organic debris. The water level rises to a narrow beach (often with overhanging snow/ice), which comprises a wide range of rounded boulders and cobbles of several types. Outcrops occupied by the penguins are highly cryoturbated (i.e. broken and churned by freezing and thawing), creating many small, flat, angular blocks. The whole lower section at base of the cliffs has rounded outcrop surfaces that are glacially polished and grooved. A well-defined raised beach, S of the usual landing area and forming the nesting site for many gentoos, is located 8-10 meters above present sea-level. This raised area is defined by a roughly flat terrace (hummocky from glaciated outcrops) with lots of small, partially rounded pebbles in hollows and on flat places, and suggests uplift of the land, lowering of sea level, or both during deglaciation. In all likelihood a more careful examination would reveal several different levels of raised beaches that penguins have been occupied during various stages of deglaciation. Landing Characteristics Uncharted water near shore. Hazardous rocks along the shoreline may be exposed, depending on the tide. Nearly vertical cliffs surround the island except on the NW coast, where zodiac landings occur on a long and exposed, cobble beach often packed with ice and snow covered, adjacent to elevated bedrock terraces extending to the W. Landing beach difficult to negotiate when snow- or ice-covered or wet. Very restricted visitor space with high tide and heavy snow cover, or when shoreline caked with ice, which crowds penguins into lines marching to and from the water. More visitor space on a low or falling tide. A very small beach at the N end provides a major access route for penguins, but is too small to accommodate both penguins and visitors, and should not be used. Snow cornices on the shoreline are unstable and treacherous. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. December 8, 1994 RN Alla Tarasova 2. December 10, 1994 RN Livonia 3. January 24, 1995 RN Explorer 4. November 19, 1995 RN LB Explorer 5. November 19, 1995 BH W. Discoverer 6. November 27, 1995 RN LB Explorer 7. December 2, 1995 BH W. Discoverer 8. January 19, 1996 RD RP Livonia 9. February 4, 1996 RN RD RP BH Livonia 10. February 12, 1996 BH RP Livonia 11. December 4, 1996 RN SF W. Discoverer 12. February 18, 1997 RN Explorer 13. December 4, 1997 RN Explorer 14. December 5, 1998 RN SF Explorer 15. January 23, 2000 RN Shuleykin 16. January 23, 2001 RN RD Cal Star 17. December 13, 2001 RN SF CE Endeavour 18. January 4, 2002 RP Endeavour 19. January 14, 2002 RP WT Endeavour 20. February 7, 2002 MM Endeavour 21. February 15, 2002 RN Endeavour 22. January 2, 2003 RP Endeavour 23. February 14, 2003 MB Endeavour Assessment and monitoring. Preliminary surveying, mapping, censusing, and photodocumentation (terrestrial). Regular, site-wide censusing of gentoo penguins difficult to accomplish in short, 2-3 hour visits. This is the largest gentoo penguin colony in the Peninsula, with many scattered nesting groups, and many at high elevations. Inventory researchers have begun to census the shag colony on the NE side of the island. Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds. Gentoo penguins, southern giant petrels, kelp gulls, Antarctic terns, snowy sheathbills, and skuas, spp. are confirmed breeders. Blue-eyed shags nest on the NE coast of the island, and Wilson’s storm-petrels nest in the higher scree. Snow and pintado petrels also may nest in the highest part of the island. Recent gentoo penguin census data reported in Woehler (1993) and Woehler & Croxall (1996): 4,818 N1, 1994, an increase of approximately 400 pairs above 1993 nest counts, and an increase of approximately 1,600 pairs above 1988 nest counts. Antarctic Site Inventory censuses: 33 C1 2001 Jan 28 N1 2003 Jan 40 C1 2003 Feb Seals. Weddell and Antarctic fur seals were hauled-out during Inventory visits. Flora. Xanthoria , spp., Buellia , spp., Caloplaca , spp., Usnea , spp. Deschampsia Antarctica , and numerous patches of moss, spp. noted. Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities . Gentoo penguins nesting on bedrock terraces W and N of the landing beach and on higher ridges and slopes are easily approached and disturbed, especially in November and early December when adults will be incubating eggs; subsequently, adults will be guarding and provisioning chicks at the nest, then in crèche. Patches of hair grass, Deschampsia Antarctica , are readily accessed and easily may be trampled. If snow has melted, moss beds on ridges and slopes above the main beach, especially on top of the island, are readily accessed and easily may be trampled. Skuas nesting on ridges and slopes above and W of the main beach are easily accessed and disturbed, particularly, later in the season (from mid-January) when adults are fiercely protecting young. Steep, uphill slopes and ridges may be snow- or ice-covered, crevassed, wet, and slippery. Pointers for avoiding disruptions .
Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Proximate visitor sites . Georges Point, Rongé Island, the Orne Island, Danco Island, and Neko Harbor. |
