Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016C01080:clause:2_2:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016C01080
Segment Type: clause
Provision Reference: sch 2 cl 2 (pt 1/3)
Character Range: 154264–157270

2  Description
  Admiralty Bay has basic physiographic and aesthetic values as one of the most typical examples of bay/fjord settings in the South Shetland Islands. The ice‑free areas within Admiralty Bay are formed by recent and raised pebble‑cobble beaches, recent and sub‑recent moraines, mountainous peninsulas, rocky islets, spurs and nunataks. The terrain is heavily shaped by glacial, nival and coastal marine processes. These, together with the geological features of the area, add to the great scenic beauty of the landscape.
  The area of Admiralty Bay is representative of the terrestrial, limnic, coastal, near‑shore, pelagic, and fjord‑bottom ecosystem of King George Island.
  Flora is mostly represented by mosses, lichen and fungi formations. Twenty‑four species of birds and 6 species of pinnipeds have been registered for the Area, but only 13 species of birds and 3 species of pinnipeds actually breed within the Area.
  The marine ecosystem of the bay largely reflects the general environmental conditions prevailing in the South Shetland Islands. However, there is a unique site, Napier Rock, at the entrance of the bay, where a rich and highly diverse benthic invertebrate fauna is found. Fish are represented by 15 species of Nototheniidae.
  Diverse and continuous scientific activities have been undertaken in the Area for almost 30 years supported by the Polish Henryk Arctowski Station, by the Brazilian Comandante Ferraz Station and by the US Antarctic Program at ASPA No. 128 Western Shore of Admiralty Bay. Research activities at the Peruvian Machu Picchu Station (at Crepin Point) and at the Ecuadorian refuge (at Hennequin Point) have occurred intermittently during the summer.
  Many features of Admiralty Bay are of considerable scientific interest. The main themes of field and laboratory research at the Polish and Brazilian stations have been marine and terrestrial biology, including physiology and adaptation of Antarctic fish and krill; taxonomy and ecology of the benthic fauna; vascular plants; mosses and lichens; terrestrial and marine ecology; migration and dispersion of birds. A long‑term research project on the biology and dynamics of bird populations (mainly Pygoscelid penguins) has been carried out by the US Antarctic Program since 1976. This study is of relevance for the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Programme (CEMP). Other studies include geology and palaeontology, glaciology and palaeoclimatology of the King George Island ice cap, and glacio‑marine sedimentation in Admiralty Bay. A year‑round seismic and Earth‑magnetism observatory, established at Arctowski Station in 1978, is the only station of its kind in the South Shetland Islands. Studies on atmospheric chemistry, geomagnetism, the ionosphere and astrophysics have been conducted at Ferraz Station since 1984. A meteorological station has been operational at Arctowski since 1977 and at Ferraz Station since 1984 to provide basic data and to support logistic operations. Research on upper