Dataset from the South Georgia Ecological Atlas: Biological Surveys and Human Activity in the 20th Century
GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/02253
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Summary
Abstract:
Island-wide ecological surveys were conducted across South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands from the 1960s to the 1990s, forming the foundation for the British Antarctic Survey's 1996 South Georgia: An Ecological Atlas. This atlas provided baseline data for late 20th-century ecological conditions and mapped the distribution of seabirds (30 species), marine mammals (3 native marine mammal species and 3 introduced terrestrial mammal species), plants (25 native phanerogams and selected introduced species), and human activities (whaling stations, wrecks) across 5 km x 5 km grid cells. In additional to biological data, the dataset also includes oceanographic and geological data.
This dataset contains Geographic Information System (GIS) shapefiles and tabulated data resulting from a project/an effort to rescue data from the 1996 South Georgia Atlas, making it freely available for download and reuse. The data can also be viewed as geographic layers in the associated QGIS project file. This resource offers valuable information for ecological research, surveys, conservation planning, and biodiversity trend analysis.
This work contributes to a deeper understanding of South Georgia's ecological history and is crucial for supporting continued monitoring and conservation efforts in the region.
Collation of the dataset into the QGIS project was funded by Darwin Plus grant, ref: DPLUS187 - Using satellite technology to monitor seabird populations at South Georgia.
The 1996 atlas has also been updated to include additional elephant seal survey data. This work was funded by Darwin Plus grant, ref: DPLUS214 - Southwest Atlantic Elephant Seal Population Assessment (SAESPA)
Keywords:
South Georgia, breeding distribution, ecological surveys, human activity, invasive species, marine mammals, seabirds
Citation
Attard, M., Daunt, F., Trathan, P., Poncet, S., Poncet, J., Prince, F., Prince, P., Whitelaw, M., Boyd, I., Lewis-Smith, R., Fisher, A., & Bamford, C. (2026). Dataset from the South Georgia Ecological Atlas: Biological Surveys and Human Activity in the 20th Century (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/2982c46c-05c1-4903-9e5d-e54b93fd95a1
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REFERENCE MATERIALS
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REFERENCE MATERIALS
- https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00263179
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102093000045
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102096000338
- https://doi.org/10.2307/1380384
- https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/509458/
Constraints
| Access Constraints: | This dataset is under embargo until the publication of an associated paper. |
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| Use Constraints: | This data is governed by the NERC data policy (http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/sites/data/policy/) and supplied under Open Government Licence v.3 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/). |
Basic Information
| Creation Date: | 2026-08-03 |
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| Dataset Progress: | Complete |
| Dataset Language: | English |
| ISO Topic Categories: |
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| Parameters: |
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| Personnel: | |
| Name | UK Polar Data Centre |
| Role(s) | Metadata Author |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | Dr Marie R G Attard |
| Role(s) | Investigator, Technical Contact |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | Francis Daunt |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Name | Dr Philip N Trathan |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | Sally Poncet |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Organisation | South Georgia Surveys |
| Name | Jerome Poncet |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Organisation | None |
| Name | Fran Prince |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | Peter Prince |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | Ian Boyd |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | Ron Lewis-Smith |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | Dr Connor C G Bamford |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | Mari Whitelaw |
| Role(s) | Technical Contact |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Name | Ms Alysa B Fisher |
| Role(s) | Investigator |
| Organisation | British Antarctic Survey |
| Parent Dataset: | N/A |
Additional Information
| Reference: | Admiralty. (1991). Approaches to South Georgia. Sheet 3596, 1:750 000. Boyd, I. L. (1993). Pup production and distribution of breeding Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) at South Georgia. Antarctic Science, 5(1), 17-24. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102093000045 Boyd, I. L., Walker, T. R., & Poncet, J. (1996). Status of southern elephant seals at South Georgia. Antarctic Science, 8(3), 237-244. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102096000338 Greene, S. W. (1964). The vascular flora of South Georgia. British Antarctic Survey Scientific Report No. 45 (p. 58). Kooyman, G. L. (1981). Weddell Seal, Consummate Diver (p. 135). Cambridge University Press. Macdonald, D. I. M., Storey, B. C., & Thomson, J. W. (1987). Geological map of South Georgia. BAS GEOMAP Series Sheet 1, 1:250 000, with supplementary text. (p. 63). British Antarctic Survey. McCann, T. S., & Rothery, P. (1988). Population size and status of the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) at South Georgia 1951-1985. Polar Biology, 8, 305-309. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00263179 Prince, P. A., & Poncet, S. E. (n.d.-a). Islands of S. Georgia - breeding birds. Bird lists. Maps. British Antarctic Survey Archives Service, Archives ref. LS8/SG/2/1986-1/8. Prince, P. A., & Poncet, S. E. (n.d.-b). Population estimates for South Georgia after the 1985-88 South Georgia Breeding Birds Survey. British Antarctic Survey Archives Service, Archives ref. LS8/SG/2/1986-1/11. Prince, P. A., & Poncet, S. E. (n.d.-c). South Georgia Breeding Birds Survey. Maps. British Antarctic Survey Archives Service, Archives ref. LS8/SG/2/1986-1/9. Trathan, P. N., Daunt, F. J. H., & Murphy, E. J. (1996). South Georgia: An Ecological Atlas. |
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| Quality: | Evenness of Surveys: The rugged topography of South Georgia, along with numerous glacial features and unpredictable weather, significantly limited access to many areas. As a result, some regions have only been visited briefly, while others, particularly offshore islands and stacks, remain unvisited or have been surveyed infrequently. This has led to an uneven spatial distribution of survey effort. Historical records (e.g., Greene, 1964) indicate that early vascular flora surveys were concentrated in approximately 30 grid squares, primarily around areas of human habitation. While subsequent efforts have improved coverage for both phanerogams and common cryptogams, under-sampling remains likely for inconspicuous or cryptic species. Some burrowing petrel species are especially difficult to detect due to their nesting habits, and their recorded distribution may underestimate their actual presence, particularly on remote or offshore islands. Therefore, care should be taken when interpreting distribution maps, as they may reflect survey bias rather than true species absence. Resolution: The spatial resolution of the data is primarily based on the coastline and a 5 km x 5 km grid system. Data is superimposed on maps of South Georgia, originally derived from the Directorate of Overseas Surveys (DOS) Map Sheet 610 (1958), which was mapped at a scale of 1:200,000 by Macdonald et al., (1987). During geo-referencing of this map, certain inaccuracies were identified, necessitating modifications to the 5 km x 5 km base grid to align with corrected geographic data. These adjustments resulted in some changes to the grid structure and modifications to areas where the coastline had shifted. Internal geographic features such as mountains and headlands have been retained within their original grid squares where possible to maintain ecological integrity. The modifications primarily affected a limited number of grid squares, particularly around St. Andrews Bay. Field data has been sourced from various surveys, including island-wide synoptic surveys, smaller regional surveys, and incidental records. Avian and mammalian survey data have been transcribed onto the 5 km x 5 km grid, with each grid square assigned a specific colour based on species population abundance (e.g., breeding pairs, pups, or adults) or presence-absence records. For vertical resolution, the dataset primarily focuses on terrestrial and nearshore marine environments. Bathymetric contours at 50 m, 100 m, 1000 m, and then at intervals of 1000 m thereafter, have been taken from the Admiralty Chart of the Approaches to South Georgia Sheet 3596 (Admiralty, 1991) at a scale of 1:750,000. Topographic contours at intervals of 250 m have been taken from Macdonald et al., (1987) at a scale of 1:250,000. In addition, spot heights of individual mountain peaks were taken from DOS Map Sheet 610 (1958). Further details on data resolution and methodology can be found in Trathan et al., (1996). Temporal coverage: Bird distributions - albatross: Black-browed Albatross (Diomedia melanophrys). Survey period: 1975/76-1990/91 Grey-headed Albatross (Diomedia chrysostoma). Survey period: 1975/76-1990/91 Light-mantled Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Wandering Albatross (Diomedia exulans). Survey period: 1946-1987/88 Bird distributions - penguins: Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Survey period: 1985/86 Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chyrsocome). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Bird distributions - petrels: Blue petrel (Halobaena caerulea). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Northern giant petrel (Macronectes halli). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Unknown giant petrel. Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 White-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Wilsons storm petrel (Oceanites oceanicus). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Black-bellied storm petrel (Fregetta tropica). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Grey-backed storm petrel (Garrodia nereis). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 South Georgia diving petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Common diving petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Bird distributions - other species: Cape pigeon (Daption capense). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Dove prion (Pachyptila desolata). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Fairy prion (Pachyptila turtur). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Dominican gull (Larus dominicanus). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Blue-eyed shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Brown skua (Catharacta lonnbergi). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 South Georgia pintail (Anas georgica). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Speckled teal (Anas flavirostris). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Sheathbill (Chionis alba). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 South Georgia pipit (Anthus antarcticus). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Tussac-breeding species (Blue petrel, Dove prion, White-chinned petrel, Common diving petrel and South Georgia pipit) (Halobaena caerulea, Pachyptila desolata, Procellaria aequinoctialis, Pelecanoides urinatrix and Anthus antarcticus). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Distribution of native breeding birds. Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 Mammals: Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella). Survey period: 1991 Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus). Survey period: 1985/86-87/88 House mouse (Mus musculus). Survey period: 1975-1976 Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Survey period: 1911-1994 Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina). Survey period: 1985/86 and 1995/96 Weddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddelii). Survey period: Pre 1981 (see Kooyman, 1981) Whaling stations, shore depots and administrative buildings: King Edward Point. Survey period: 1979 Godthul shore depot. Survey period: 1983 Stromness whaling station. Survey year: 1983 Grytviken whaling station. Survey year: 1983 Husvik whaling station. Survey year: 1980 Leith whaling station. Survey year: 1980 Ocean Harbour whaling station. Survey year: 1983 Prince Olav Harbour. Survey year: 1983 Place-names in South Georgia: Place-names. 1994 and 1996 Wrecks: Wrecks. Survey year: 1984 |
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| Lineage/Methodology: | The data for this study was collected through a series of biological surveys conducted across South Georgia, combining large-scale synoptic surveys and smaller targeted studies to provide comprehensive data on the physical environment, flora, and fauna. The data were originally developed as ARC/INFO (ESRI) layers. Survey Design and Data Collection: Data was collated using a 5 x 5 km grid system, overlaid on the DOS Map Sheet 610 (1958) at a 1:200,000 scale, and cross-referenced with more modern topographic maps (e.g., Macdonald et al., 1987) to reduce geographic errors, especially around St Andrews Bay and King Haakon Bay. The majority of the biological data, including bird and mammal distribution, was gathered during surveys between 1985 and 1987, with some more recent updates from 1991 onwards. These surveys were conducted by BAS scientists in collaboration with Sally Poncet and Jerome Poncet aboard the yacht Damien II (Trathan et al., 1996). Fieldwork for these surveys was carried out during the summer months, primarily from November to January, when conditions were suitable for land-based surveys of the island's fauna and flora. Key Data Collection Elements: Bird Data: Most bird data derive from the South Georgia Breeding Birds Survey conducted from November to December in 1985 and 1986 and from November 1987 to January 1988. Boat landings were conducted for the whole island surveys, while most other records were from opportunistic observations. Presence/absence data were recorded for 30 bird species using field cards corresponding to the 5 x 5 km grid system based on the DOS Map Sheet 610 (1958), with population estimates for key species including king penguins, gentoo penguins, and wandering albatross. The BAS archives contain the original tabulated presence-absence data (LS8/SG/2/1986-1/8) (Prince & Poncet, n.d.-a), distribution maps (LS8/SG/2/1986-1/9) (Prince & Poncet, n.d.-c) and count data (LS8/SG/2/1986-1/11) (Prince & Poncet, n.d.-b) for each species. Species codes were used during the survey, with later allocation of a species ID number. Estimates of species populations or breeding pair counts were developed by Trathan et al. (1996). More accurate estimates using more recent data, or improved estimation methods are subsequently available for various bird species. The estimates developed by Trathan et al.(Trathan et al., 1996) are documented here only for comparative purposes. For South Georgia shags, each 5 x 5 km grid square may contain up to five colonies (reported in LS8/SG/2/1986-1/11 by BAS Archives) (Prince & Poncet, n.d.-b). For each species, breeding activity within each 5 x 5 km grid square was classified into three categories: (1) Possible Breeding: Birds observed in a potential nesting habitat during the breeding season, without any other indication of breeding behaviour. Observation of corpses or skulls also indicated possible breeding activity; (2) Probable Breeding: Behaviours such as breeding calls, or presence of singing males, birds or pairs appearing to hold territory indicated probable breeding. Additional signs included observed courtship displays, agitated behaviour, or anxiety calls from adults, which suggested the potential presence of nests or young nearby. Visits to probable nest sites or evidence of nest building, such as the excavation of nest holes, were also considered indicative of probable breeding; (3) Confirmed Breeding: Behaviours such as distraction displays, injury feigning by adults, or the presence of used nests, chicks or recently fledged young, or adults carrying faecal sacs or food for their young were indicative of confirmed breeding. Adults entering or leaving nest sites in a manner indicating occupancy, as well as nests containing eggs or undisturbed sitting birds, were clear evidence of confirmed breeding activity. For analytical purposes, the categories of probable breeding and confirmed breeding were regarded as nearly synonymous due to their close association in behavioural indicators. Corrections applied to count data for breeding pair estimates are species specific, as detailed in Trathan et al.(1996). Mammal Data: Large-scale surveys of South Georgia were conducted by BAS scientists to map the breeding distribution of mammals, including Southern elephant seals (1985, 1996) (McCann and Rothery, 1988), Antarctic fur seals (1991) and Weddell seals (Kooyman, 1981), alongside observations of reindeer, mouse and rat populations. Shape polygons showing extent of reindeer and mouse populations included. The distribution of Southern elephant seals surveyed in 1985 was published in 1996 (Boyd et al., 1996), while Antarctic fur seal distributions, along with female and pup abundance, were mapped in 1991 and published in 1993 (Boyd, 1993). Physical Environment Data: Includes topography data on the island's coastline, glaciers, ice cover, and major lakes, derived from Macdonald et al. (1987). The coastline forms the foundation of all maps. Only major water bodies are represented, with small tarns and freshwater courses excluded. Bathymetric data and geological features, geology, confirmed and inferred faults, thrust faults, main cleavage trains, dips and strikes, axial traces, mafic dykes, fossil localities (both plant and animal), and rock radiometric age measurements, as summarised by Macdonald et al. (1987), were also incorporated. Bathymetric contours were created at 50 m, 100 m, 1000 m, with subsequent contours at 1000 m increments. These were derived from the Admiralty Chart of the Approaches to South Georgia Sheet 3596 (Admiralty, 1991). Metadata and Processing of the Data: All data was processed using a Geographic Information System (GIS) for spatial analysis, structured around key environmental categories such as species distribution, topography, geology and human activity. Distribution data corresponds to a 5 x 5 grid cell, with colony-specific information provided, where available. Metadata Details: Model Name and Version: The recovered GIS database was opened and converted to usable formats in ArcMap v10.8. The resulting files were saved in a folder in a database, which can be opened in any standard GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS, ENVI). The QGIS file (version 3.22.2) contains all shapefiles and tables for easy visualisation. The GIS dataset uses the World Geodetic System WGS_1984 and the Lambert Conformal Conic projection Conditions of the Calculation: Data processing included the alignment of various datasets (physical environment, species distribution, and human activities) against the DOS Map Sheet 610 (1958), with necessary corrections made to reflect modern topographic surveys and geological studies. The data for birds, seals, and mammals were categorised by specific grid squares, with presence/absence records aligned with the survey data, primarily from 1985 to 1987. Nature of Output: The output of the GIS processing includes maps showing the distribution of species, topographical features, and human impact sites across South Georgia. This allows for a visual representation of ecological relationships and potential areas of conservation concern. Cruise Information (If Applicable) While many of the data collection efforts were part of ongoing fieldwork by BAS scientists, some of the surveys were conducted aboard the yacht Damien II. Reuse and Application The dataset contains all metadata and environmental data categorised clearly for further analysis. The use of a 5 x 5 km grid system, consistent across various surveys, allows for comparative studies across time periods and between different environmental features. Users can apply the data for ecological modelling, conservation planning, or further environmental studies of South Georgia. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Eugene Murphy, Andrew Clarke, John Croxall, David Walton, Helen Peat, Robert Headland, Janet Thomson, Ann Roberts, Sarah King, Paul Cooper, and Tracy Edwards from the British Antarctic Survey, whose expertise and support were instrumental in the development of the South Georgia GIS. Peter Prince (British Antarctic Survey) is remembered for his invaluable contributions to the original surveys and for the detailed insights he provided during the compilation of the 1996 South Georgia: An Ecological Atlas. His work laid important groundwork for the development of this database. |
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Locality
| Temporal Coverage: | |
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| Start Date | 1979-01-01 |
| End Date | 1996-12-31 |
| Spatial Coverage: | |
| Latitude | |
| Southernmost | -55.1 |
| Northernmost | -53.95 |
| Longitude | |
| Westernmost | -38.05 |
| Easternmost | -35.7 |
| Altitude | |
| Min Altitude | N/A |
| Max Altitude | N/A |
| Depth | |
| Min Depth | N/A |
| Max Depth | N/A |
| Location: | |
| Location | South Georgia Island |
| Detailed Location | N/A |
Instrumentation
| Data Collection: | Original Data Capture and Processing (1990s) Viglen 386 PC connected to an A0 digitising table was used for data capture through manual digitisation. SUN SPARCstation 20, model 61, a Unix workstation, was used for GIS analysis, along with peripheral devices for loading and storing large datasets. Data Recovery and Modern Processing (2024-25): ArcMap v10.8 was used to open the original files and convert them into dbf and csv format (for tables) and shapefiles (for vector data) to ensure compatibility with modern GIS software. QGIS Desktop 3.22.2 was used to integrate all shapefiles and tables into a QGIS project. The data was then colour-coded to replicate the original maps from South Georgia: An Ecological Atlas. Data cleaning: Columns and tables containing duplicates or irrelevant information from the original 1990's data process were removed to improve data usability and relevance. Data were retained in their original folders and sub-folders, which follows the same layout as South Georgia: An Ecological Atlas. The fisheries data has been excluded. Additional data: The 1995/96 elephant seal survey across South Georgia were added to the database. The original hand-drawn engineering diagrams of the whaling stations have been scanned from the BAS archives and added to the database. |
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Storage
| Data Storage: | The dataset consists of multiple csv, dbf and shapefiles in a 'sgeorgia_shapefiles' folder divided into sub-folders based on topic, including bird distribution, coastline, geology, human activities (wrecks, whaling, sealing), lakes, mammal distributions, place-names, plant distribution and topography of South Georgia. The total file size is 50.1 MB (1683 files, 174 folders). The QGIS file 'south_georgia_an_ecological_atlas' contains all maps created from the shapefiles using in the 1996 publication 'South Georgia: An Ecological Atlas'. |
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