Amphibolite Point (AMPH)
60˚41’S, 45˚21’W Magnetic Declination: 2.4˚ E Inventory subarea: SO Inventory acronym: AMPH Site Sensitivity: LOW
Location — History — Features Conspicuous, pyramidal point located 1.5 mile NW of Saunders Point on the S coast of Coronation island. Named by Falkland island Dependencies Survey after 1948-49 surveys. Named for considerable amount of the metamorphic rock, amphibolite, found on site. Landing Characteristics Small cove at base of penguin colony provides narrow, rocky, uphill access to the site. Antarctic Site Inventory Effort Visits by Antarctic Site Inventory researchers, 1994-2003: 1. February 22, 2002 RN Endeavour Assessment and monitoring . Preliminary surveying and population estimates. Regular chinstrap penguin census colonies not identified. Preliminary ground level digital photography achieved. No aerial photodocumentation. Fauna — Flora — Censuses Penguins & flying birds . Chinstrap penguins and snowy sheathbills confirmed breeding at time of Inventory visit. One gentoo penguin, dead Adélie penguin chicks also noted. Large area cleared, where Adélie penguins likely breed and which, at time of Inventory visit, had concluded their breeding season and departed. Recent census data reported in Woehler (1993): chinstrap penguin, 4,000 N4, 1984; and Adélie penguin, 4,000 N4, 1984. Seals . Southern elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals hauled-out on shore. Flora . Crustose lichens (spp.) commonly observed. Conservation Aspects Site sensitivities . Restricted visitor space among large colony of breeding chinstrap penguins. Fur seals on the rocky landing beach, and in coves along the shoreline. Pointers for avoiding disruptions:
Visitation Aspects Numbers of tourist zodiac landings and participating visitors, 1989-2003:
Proximate visitor sites . Laurie Island (Cape Dundas), Gosling Islands, Signy Island, Coronation Island (Gibbon Bay, Shingle Cove, Iceberg Bay). |
