Marion Island, South Africa Photograph by Paddy Kuun   Antarctic islands in the southern Indian Ocean Tundra   3,200 square miles (8,200 square kilometers) -- about half the size of Hawaii Critical/Endangered

· The Not-So-Sunny South
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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The Not-So-Sunny South

If you think of going south for warm temperatures, think again! While the northern parts of the Indian Ocean are known for their warm tropical waters, the southern Indian Ocean stretches to Antarctica and is home to the icy Southern Indian Ocean Islands Tundra ecoregion. The rocky, snowy, and icy islands of this ecoregion are home to a variety of sub-Antarctic species, such as albatrosses, penguins, and seals.

Special Features

Although the growing conditions are harsh, a variety of plant communities have found ways to survive in this sub-Antarctic ecoregion. Tussock grasses get nutrients by growing in areas exposed to sea spray and fertilized by seabird droppings. The cushion plant and Kerguelen cabbage grow in protected valleys, while ferns can be found on warmer, north-facing slopes. Offshore of the islands, kelp beds can be found in the rocky coastal waters.

	There are no penguins in the Arctic. All penguins are found south of the equator, from the Galapagos Islands near the equator to Antarctica.

Wild Side

The islands of this ecoregion are home to a variety of insects, birds, and marine mammals. Butterflies, moths, weevils, and spiders fly over or crawl through the vegetation, while seabirds such as the lesser sheathbill, great-winged petrel, and Antarctic tern breed on the islands. This ecoregion is the only place where all six species of Antarctic seals have been found, and it is an important breeding ground for the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic fur seal, leopard seal, and southern elephant seal.

Cause for Concern

As on many islands, introduced species threaten the native wildlife. A variety of plants have been introduced in the region, and mice and cats have also been brought to the islands. Cats, brought to the islands to control the introduced mice, are especially threatening to breeding birds such as petrels.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.