Wildlife of the Falkland Islands

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warrah
– now extinct – was the only native land mammal found on the islands upon their discovery by Europeans.

The wildlife of the Falkland Islands is quite similar to that of

warrah, is now extinct. However, a large number of bird species have been seen around the islands, and many of them breed on the smaller islands of the archipelago. Insects play a large role in the ecosystem of the islands, and over 200 species have been recorded. The waters around the Falkland Islands sustain many animals, including a large number of marine mammals. Three pinniped
species breed on the islands.

There are no trees native to the area, leading to a wide proliferation of grass species. This includes

tussac grass
, the dense leaves of which provide a micro-climate for many bird and invertebrate species. Small bushes are also found, along with a small number of freshwater plants. The plant species vary with different factors such as the fertility of the soil, the humidity, and altitude.

There is a lack of data about many species in the islands, as well as a lack of long-term data about the environment. Introduced animals are having a detrimental effect on native wildlife, which is now mainly restricted to smaller offshore islands. Some native animals are protected, but many are not, due to a lack of information about them.

Ecological zones and habitats

The

Antarctic ecozone[2] and Antarctic Floristic Kingdom.[3] Strong connections exist with the flora and fauna of Patagonia in South America,[4] especially to those in Tierra del Fuego. As the Falkland Islands were originally connected to the African rather than South American mainland, the connections with Patagonia suggest wildlife on the islands arrived through dispersal.[5]

There are two main islands in the archipelago,

tussac grass, which needs high humidity and salty air to flourish. Inland habitats are often heath, either grass or shrubs, or feldmark made of cushion plants. Lowlands have acidic peaty soil with a low fertility. These lowlands support grass in wetter areas, but only shrubs in the drier areas. In the areas with high nutrient levels, the lowlands can support turf,[6] however most peat is very shallow and lies on top of clay.[7] Mountain vegetation consists mainly of cushion plants, moss and lichen dominated heaths.[8]

Fauna

See also: List of mammals of the Falkland Islands, List of birds of the Falkland Islands, and Fauna of the Falkland Islands

The archipelago had only one terrestrial mammal upon the arrival of Europeans, the

cetaceans, are also sometimes seen.[14] Populations of large whales, drastically reduced by illegal whaling carried out by the Soviet Union until the late 1970s, are now recovering. These include southern right whales, humpback whales, blue whales, fin whales, sei whales, and sperm whales.[15]

Gypsy Cove

227 bird species have been seen on the islands,[4] over 60 of which are known to breed on the islands.[13] 21 of the resident species are land birds, and 18 are water birds. There are 22 species of seabirds which breed on the islands, and at least 18 annual migrators who breed elsewhere. There are two endemic species of bird (the Falkland steamer duck and Cobb's wren), and 14 endemic subspecies.[4]

There are five penguin species breeding on the islands, king penguins, rockhopper penguins, magellanic penguins, gentoo penguins, and macaroni penguins.[16] Approximately 494,500 breeding pairs are thought to live on the island, 500 of which are king penguins.[1] Five other species have been recorded, but do not have a breeding population.[4] The largest breeding population of black-browed albatross is found on the islands,[1] making up over 80% of the world's black-browed albatross population.[16] This is the only breeding species of albatross, although nine others have been recorded.[4] Many species of petrel also nest on the Falklands. Most remaining bird colonies exist on remote offshore islands.[13]

Inland, upland and ruddy-headed geese live near small freshwater ponds, along with silver teal, Chiloé wigeon, and white-tufted grebe.[13] There are six species of herons and egrets that have been recorded, although only the black-crowned night heron is known to breed in the area.[4]

A striated caracara standing among tall grass
The striated caracara, a bird of prey found in the Falklands.

There are no native

booklice. Only 13 terrestrial invertebrates are recognised as endemic, although information on many species in lacking and it is suspected up to two thirds of species found are actually endemic, including 16 spiders. Insects are important as decomposers, and also make up a large portion of the diet of some bird species. Due to the island environment, many insect species have developed reduced or absent wings. There are around 129 freshwater invertebrates, the majority being rotifer, however the identification of some species remains in dispute.[4]

Six species of fish are found in freshwater areas including the

lobster krill inhabiting the warmer waters in the north.[20]

Flora

Main article: List of the vascular plants of the Falkland Islands

Vegetation on the archipelago is composed of

clubmosses are recorded,[4] and 278 species of flowering plants have been recorded. There are no native tree species, although there are two species of bushes, fachine and native box. Some bogs and fens exist, freshwater plants include the soft-camp bog (Astelia pumila), dwarf marigold (Caltha appendiculata), gaimardia (Gaimardia australis) and the carnivorous sundew Drosera uniflora.[8]

Bolax gummifera

micro-climate suitable for many birds and invertebrates.[21]

genera have been recorded from the island.[23] Teaberry (Myrteola nummularia) grows in marshy areas.[24]

The

pale maiden (Olsynium filifolium) is the Falkland Island's proposed national flower.[13]

Issues and introduced species

There is little long-term data on habitat changes, so the extent of human impact is unclear, although threats such as

warrah, was wiped out in the mid-19th century.[1]

Wildlife tourism is growing, and steps are being taken to protect the wildlife of the islands. Some protection exists under the Conservation of Wildlife and Nature Ordinance 1999. Only two bird species lack legal protection. One fish species, the zebra trout, is protected. Amid a lack of information on invertebrates, legislation exists to protect only butterflies.[4]

Virtually the entire area of the islands is used as

sheep. There is also an introduced reindeer population, which was brought to the islands in 2001 for commercial purposes.[26] Rats have been introduced in the area, and guanacos were introduced south of Mount Pleasant in 1862 so Prince Alfred could hunt them in 1871. However, the introduction was generally unsuccessful, and they died out everywhere except Staats Island.[9] South American gray foxes were introduced and are having a detrimental impact on birds that nest on the shores, as are feral cats. A number of invertebrate species have been introduced since the arrival of Europeans, some filling niches that were not previously filled. House sparrows and domestic geese are the only introduced bird species. Introduced fish species exist, such as the brown trout. Twenty-two introduced plant species are thought to provide a significant threat to local flora.[4]

The climate and soil composition, combined with limited knowledge and inadequate protection have meant that past attempts to establish trees on the islands have not been very successful,[7] although various attempts have been made over the past 80 years. Having trees in place to disrupt the cold winds of the islands would positively impact sheep farming, improving lamb survival rates and help with recovery from stress. It could also allow for some crops to be farmed, providing shelter and enhancing soil quality.[27] A 1983 study determined that it may be possible to plant trees for wind shelter, although imported stock would have to be used as it was impractical to raise sufficient numbers on the islands. A small number of sizeable plots exist, but they are largely confined to sites near houses and gardens.[7]

There are a small number of significant stands of introduced trees on the islands, primarily the

Port Stanley contains 255 trees (one for each UK serviceman killed in the Falklands War. There is also a stand of Monterey cypress and New Zealand cabbage palms at Port Patterson on Carcass Island
.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Location". Falkland Islands Government. Archived from the original on August 2, 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  2. IUCN. pp. 37–38. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  3. S2CID 247709514. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on July 7, 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Falkland Islands State of the Environment Report 2008" (PDF). gov.fk. May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  5. ^ a b c McDowall, R.M. 2005. Falkland Islands biogeography: converging trajectories in the South Atlantic Ocean. J. Biogeogr. 32: 49–62.
  6. ^ British Antarctic Survey; Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (1968). Scientific Reports. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  7. ^
    ISSN 1464-3626
    . Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  8. ^ a b Oxford, University of; Sciences, Department of Plant. "Home Page". BRAHMS Online. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  9. ^ "How the Warrah Reached the Falklands". Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  10. ^ "New Clues To Extinct Falklands Wolf Mystery". Science Daily. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  11. ^ "Falkland Islands wildlife". Oceanwide Expeditions. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Nature". falklands.gov.fk. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  13. ^ "Whales". Falklands Conservation. 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  14. ISBN 9780226895178
    . Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  15. ^ a b "Environment". Falkland Islands Government. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  16. ^ Pauly, D. (2004). "Falklands Islands". Darwin's Fishes. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 75.
  17. ^ Armstrong, P.H. (1992). Darwin's Desolate Islands: A Naturalist in the Falklands, 1833 and 1834. Chippenham, UK: Picton Publishing.
  18. ^
    ISBN 978-1740596435
    .
  19. ^ "Ecology of lobster krill". Home. 2020-04-05. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  20. ^ "Tussac Grass". Falklands Conservation. 2021-02-15. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  21. ^ "Balsam-bog to snakeplant". Kew. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  22. ^ Fryday, lan M.; Orange, Alan; Ahti, Teuvo; Øvstedal, Dag O.; Crabtree, Dafydd E. (2019). "An annotated checklist of lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi reported from the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)" (PDF). Glalia. 8 (1): 1–100.
  23. ^ "Teaberry- Malvina Berry Myrteola nummularia, Flora, Falkland Islands". Falkland Islands. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  24. ISBN 978-0-904614-00-8
    . Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  25. ^ "Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)". The World Factbook. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  26. ^ McAdam, J. H. "The potential for Agroforestry in the Falkland Islands" (PDF). United Kingdom Falkland Islands Trust: 406–407. Retrieved 28 July 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)[dead link]

Further reading

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