Gough Island, United Kingdom Photograph by South African National Antarctic Program   South Atlantic Ocean, about half way between southern Africa and South America Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands   100 square miles (200 square kilometers) -- about the size of Washington DC Critical/Endangered

· Lonely Islands
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Lonely Islands

The Tristan Da Cunha-Gough Islands Shrub and Grasslands ecoregion spreads over several islands in the South Atlantic. Because it’s 1500 miles (2500 km) from the nearest continent, one of the islands, Tristan da Cunha, has been called the "lonely island." It is also considered the remotest human inhabited island in the world. But if you keep company with rare and endemic birds and plants, penguins, and seals, you won’t be lonely at all in this ocean-bound ecoregion.

Special Features

Of all the islands in this ecoregion, Tristan Da Cunha is the only one that is considered to be active. There are 49 endemic plants found here and tiny Gough Island has been described as the most important seabird colony in the world, with 54 species having been recorded here. Several of the islands have their own endemic species of bird, confined to just one small island. Much of this ecoregion is covered with tussock grass, fern bush, and thickets of Phylica arborea--a tree native to these islands. Peat bogs and mats of moss and crowberry cover the higher elevations. At the highest elevations wet heath is present with grasses and sedges. Even the waters around these islands are incredible; they contain at least 40 species of algae, including bull and giant kelp.

	These islands lack any native reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fish, or terrestrial mammals.

Wild Side

A number of endemic birds inhabit these islands, including the Tristan thrush, Tristan bunting, Gough Island bunting, Gough moorhen, Gough finch, Atlantic petrel, and the Inaccessible rail, found only on Inaccessible Island. The only surviving southern giant petrels breed on Gough Island. Other birds found here include albatrosses, petrels, skuas, and terns. Marine species also find sanctuary on these islands with almost half of the world’s population of rockhopper penguins breeding on Gough Island alone. They are joined by macaroni penguins, sub-Antarctic fur seals, and southern elephant seals. Offshore, the rare Shepherd’s whales and southern right whales swim in the water around these islands.

Cause for Concern

Grazing of introduced domestic animals on the islands has resulted in habitat loss, particularly on Tristan da Cunha, since it is the only permanently inhabited island out of the four. Although the population totals less than 300 people, livestock are carefully managed to prevent further damage. Each family is allowed 2 cows and 7 sheep that they graze in a designated part of the island. Introduced species of plants also threaten to upset the islands’ delicate ecosystems, and although strict measures are taken to try to prevent introductions, seagoing and migratory birds can still introduce seeds through their feces. Gough Island is a nature preserve and world heritage site, which offers it protection. Inaccessible Island is also a nature reserve, although it is not strictly monitored.

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