This dataset comprises a table and set of maps of all geographic sites of ice-free land along the East Antarctica coastline between longitudes 37°E and 160°E. Each geographic site comprises a discrete area of ice-free land and includes islands within 100 km of the coast and outcrops of ice free continental rock within 1 km of the coast. The geographic sites were identified in a geographic information system using polygons sourced from the AAT Coastline 2003 dataset produced by Geoscience Australia and the Australian Antarctic Division, and exposed rock polygons sourced from the Antarctic Digital Database version 4.0 produced for the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. The maps are grouped into sub-regions and regions, with multiple maps in most sub-regions. The maps were designed to be of a scale that could be used in the field to identify sites by their shape and location. This dataset has previously been used in the specific context of potential breeding habitat for Adelie penguins (doi:10.4225/15/5758F4EC91665) but has potential for broader use in a wide range of ecological and environmental studies. 2021-06-30 - an updated copy of the spatial reference system spreadsheet was uploaded. The update was only minor.

The dataset contains boundaries of Adelie penguin breeding colonies at numerous breeding sites across east Antarctica. The boundary data were obtained using a range of methods which are detailed in separate spatial group-season accounts. The database of potential Adelie penguin breeding habitat in Southwell et al. (2016a) was used to associate colony boundaries to a particular breeding site and structure how the boundaries are stored. The breeding site database has a unique identifying code of every site of potential breeding habitat in East Antarctica, and the sites are aggregated into spatial sub-groups and then spatial groups. The file structure in which the boundaries are stored has a combination of 'group' and 'split-year breeding season' at the top level (eg VES 2015-16 contains all boundaries in spatial group VES (Vestfold Hills and islands) taken in the 2015-16 breeding season). Within each group-year folder are sub-folders for each breeding site where photos were taken (eg IS_72276 is Gardner Island in the VES group). Please refer to the Seabird Conservation Team Data Sharing Policy for use, acknowledgement and availability of data prior to downloading data.

Southern Ocean Seabirds Bibliography compiled by SCAR Bird Biology Subgroup contains 1,112 records. The fields in this dataset are: year author title journal

This is a polygon GIS dataset representing penguin colonies on Macquarie Island. The penguin species include Gentoo, King, Rockhopper and Royal.

This indicator is no longer maintained, and is considered OBSOLETE. INDICATOR DEFINITION A count of visits and visitor numbers to Australian Antarctic Territory sites and Australia's sub-Antarctic islands by Australian and overseas tour operators and private vessels. Data are also available for Australian tour operators that visit other (non-AAT) areas of the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. TYPE OF INDICATOR There are three types of indicators used in this report: 1.Describes the CONDITION of important elements of a system; 2.Show the extent of the major PRESSURES exerted on a system; 3.Determine RESPONSES to either condition or changes in the condition of a system. This indicator is one of: PRESSURE RATIONALE FOR INDICATOR SELECTION Shipborne Antarctic tourist numbers have quadrupled in the past fifteen years. Antarctic tourism is expected to continue to exhibit high growth, particularly if more large cruise ships begin operating there. Antarctic tourism is currently concentrated around the Antarctic Peninsula area and associated sub-Antarctic islands. Apart from visits to Australia's sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island (which is managed by the State of Tasmania), there are currently only limited tourist visits to the AAT and other Australian sub-Antarctic islands. It is, however, important to track these activities due to the potential risk of cumulative environmental impact: the areas of most interest to tourists are those with concentrations of wildlife, with unique physical or biotic characteristics, or with heritage sites. Increased visits by tourist ships in Antarctic waters also increase the potential for oil spills, wildlife disturbance, effluent/waste discharges and introduced diseases. DESIGN AND STRATEGY FOR INDICATOR MONITORING PROGRAM Spatial scale: Australian Antarctic Territory and Australian sub-Antarctic islands visited by tour operators. Data from the Antarctic Peninsula (not Australian territory) is also included, from 2001-02 onwards, based on the reports of Australian tour operators who operate on the Peninsula. Note that Australian operators typically carry fewer than 10% of the total number of tourists in the Peninsula region, so the data does not reflect the overall pressure on that region. Frequency: Collected/reported annually, based on austral summer season for tour activities. Measurement technique: Data collected via initial environmental impacts assessments (EIAs) provided by operators/owners and via post visit reports. These data can be collated as required. Data on tourist visits/activities are also collected by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), although this information is predominantly about operators who are members of IAATO. Australia must provide information on private vessel activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area as part of Antarctic Treaty reporting obligations. Information from operators is also sought, and provided in the EIAs, on the type of operation and tourist activities and measures taken to minimise environmental impacts, e.g. oil spills contingencies. RESEARCH ISSUES Several issues are of concern with regard to increased tourism activity in the Antarctic region. The potential for cumulative impacts needs to be explored and methods developed to identify and quantify impacts at specific sites. Increased tourist and ship activity has the potential to cause pollution. Implications for increased pollutant loads in Antarctic ecosystems need to be addressed and acceptable levels of pollutants need to be identified. The introduction of exotic pests and/or diseases due to tourist activities has the potential to considerably affect Antarctic ecosystems. Work needs to be done to assess introductions that may occur and that have already occurred, and the impacts of these introductions.

The Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML) Project Archive is a collection of scanned documents, maps, videos, and other related material that comprise the organisation and management documentation associated with a major research project of international significance. CAML measured the distribution and abundance of life in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica so that future impacts of climate change and human activities can be better understood. CAML coordinated the largest-ever survey of the Southern Ocean with 18 voyages in Antarctic waters, and inventoried over 16,000 marine species with hundreds new to science, provided DNA barcodes for 1,500 species, and has so far produced more than 600 scientific publications. CAML is a key activity of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR); a subproject of the Census of Marine Life (CoML); and was a major initiative of the 2007-2009 International Polar Year (IPY).

The Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML) Project Archive is a collection of scanned documents, maps, videos, and other related material that comprise the organisation and management documentation associated with a major research project of international significance. CAML measured the distribution and abundance of life in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica so that future impacts of climate change and human activities can be better understood. CAML coordinated the largest-ever survey of the Southern Ocean with 18 voyages in Antarctic waters, and inventoried over 16,000 marine species with hundreds new to science, provided DNA barcodes for 1,500 species, and has so far produced more than 600 scientific publications. CAML is a key activity of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR); a subproject of the Census of Marine Life (CoML); and was a major initiative of the 2007-2009 International Polar Year (IPY).

Snow Petrels Bibliography compiled by John Croxall of the SCAR Bird Biology Subgroup contains 146 records. The fields in this dataset are: year author title journal petrel

Abrupt Mid-Twentieth Century Decline in Antarctic Sea-Ice Extent from Whaling Records. Format is a WinZip'ed Microsoft Access 2000 database. The northernmost edge of the sea ice was derived from the southernmost positions of whale catches. A supplemental word document is also included with the dataset. This dataset was originally compiled by Bill de la Mare. The fields in this dataset are: record ID latitude mean latitude longitude longitude Interval date season decade id catch Record species ID

The dataset comprises records of crossings by Adelie penguins of a weighbridge and gateway established on Bechervaise Island. The weighbridge and gateway are positioned so that most or all of the penguins breeding in a set of sub-colonies on the island cross the weighbridge when they leave the colony to forage and when they return from foraging. The gateway records the time of each crossing, the dynamic weight of the penguin as it crosses, and the identity of penguins that have been sub-cutaneously tagged. The weighbridge and gateway operate continuously throughout the austral breeding season. The data are currently in an unprocessed form.