Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p96
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 96/98)
Character Range: 507251–510414

Island has doubled in area since 1980 following significant volcanic activity.
Flora
The vegetation of the island group is typically sub-Antarctic comprised predominantly of bryophytes, lichens, mosses, liverworts and tussock grasses. Eleven species of vascular plants are known to occur on Heard Island and five on the McDonald Islands. Six major higher plant communities dominate the islands: tussock grassland, meadow, herbfield, pool complex, cushion carpet and fellfield. The islands are void of woody plants (Commonwealth of Australia 2014).
Fauna
Black-browed Albatross, Light-mantled Albatross and Southern Giant Petrel breed on Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Commonwealth of Australia 2014). Fifteen other avian species breed on the islands. Heard Island Sheathbill (Chionis minor nasicornis) is a strongly defined subspecies endemic to the islands. Four species of burrow-nesting seabirds breed in tens of thousands on Heard Island: Antarctic Prion (Pachyptila desolata), Fulmar Prion (Pachyptila crassirostris), South Georgia Diving-petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus) and Common Diving-petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix).
Other seabirds breeding in large numbers on Heard Island and McDonald Islands include: Cape Petrel (Daption capense), Wilson's Storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), Subantarctic Skua (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) and Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus). Vast colonies of Macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus), over one million breeding pairs, occur on both Heard Island and McDonald Island. There are also large numbers of Southern Rockhopper, Gentoo, and King Penguin. Three seal species breed on the islands: Southern Elephant Seal, Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) and Subantarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis). Some 127 species of terrestrial invertebrates (many of which are endemic) have been found to occur on the islands (Commonwealth of Australia 2014).
Introduced species
The introduced winter grass Poa annua is present on Heard Island, as well as several non-native invertebrate species. It is thought that this grass species was introduced by natural processes, probably by skuas from the Kerguelen Islands where it is widespread, because the grass was initially recorded in 1987 in two recently deglaciated areas where human visitation had not occurred (Commonwealth of Australia 2014).
Albatross and petrel breeding locations
The ice-free areas of Heard Island are mostly confined to the narrow coastal flats at the north, north-western and eastern ends of the island. These are the main breeding areas for Black-browed Albatross, Light-mantled Albatross, and Southern Giant Petrel. There have been occasional sightings of Wandering Albatross on Heard Island at Cape Gazert (Johnstone 1982).
Effects of human occupation
Heard Island was the focus of a major sealing industry from 1855 to 1929. It is likely that the albatross and giant petrel populations were exploited for food throughout this period (Downes 2002). In 1947, jurisdiction over Heard Island and the McDonald Islands was transferred from the United Kingdom to Australia. Australia used Heard Island as a meteorological base until 1954.