Research
The Elephant Seals of Sea Lion Island
Since 1995, a team of Italian researchers have been conducting a long-term study of the southern elephant seals of Sea Lion Island.
The project focuses on the behaviour, ecology and genetics of the seals with the hope of tracking individuals throughout their lives.
Sea Lion Island is the ideal place to carry out a study of this kind because it is home to a small and localised population of elephant seals, where it is possible to mark and recognise almost al is home to a small and localised population of elephant seals, where it is possible to mark (as you can see in the photograph) and recognise almost all breeding individuals.
For more information on the research project go to web.tiscali.it/esrg
The Flora of Sea Lion Island
The native flora of Sea Lion Island has been closely studied and some of the species found are endemic to the Falkland Islands. Species of particular note include:
Viola magellanica which has been found nowhere else in the archipelago.
The scarce freshwater reed Schoenoplectus californicus is found in Long Pond and is important for Silvery Grebe.
Rumex magellanicus a scarce native recently rediscovered in the Falklands and which had not been recorded since 1856.
Large stands of Poa flabellata which forms a nationally important habitat (Tussac) of high wildlife value.
Here follows a list of all native plants found on the island (those marked with an * are endemic to the Falkland Islands):
Ferns
Small-fern (Blechnum penna-marina)
Tall-fern (Blechnum magellanicum)
Falkland Filmy-fern (Hymenophyllum falklandicum)
Flowering plants
Prickly-burr (Acaena magellanica)
Wild Celery (Apium australe)
Marsh Daisy (Aster vahlii)
Wiry Azorella (Azorella filamentosa)
Tufted Azorella (Azorella monantha)
Christmas-bush (Baccharis magellanica)
Water-starwort (Callitriche antarctica)
Arrow-leaved Marsh-marigold (Caltha sagittata)
Bittercress (Cardamine glacialis)
Sword-grass (Carex trifida)
Field Mouse-ear (Cerastium arvense)
Dog Orchid (Codonorchis lessonii)
Andean Pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis)
Emerald-bog (Colobanthus subulatus)
Swinecress (Coronopus didymus)
Stonecrop (Crassula moschata)
Drapetes (Drapetes muscosus)
Fuegian Couch (Elymus glaucescens)
Diddle-dee (Empetrum rubrum)
Antarctic Bedstraw (Galium antarcticum)
Falkland Cudweed (Gamochaeta malvinensis)
Spiked Cudweed (Gamochaeta spiciformis)
Mountainberry (Gaultheria pumila)
Pigvine (Gunnera magellanica)
Boxwood (Hebe elliptica)
Cinnamon-grass (Hierochloe redolens)
Nodding Club-rush (Isolepis cernua)
Native Rush (Juncus scheuchzerioides)
Buttonweed (Leptinella scariosa)
Vanilla Daisy (Leucheria suaveolens)*
Lilaeopsis (Lilaeopsis macloviana)
Native Wood-rush (Luzula alopecurus)
Teaberry (Myrteola nummularia)
Coastal Nassauvia (Nassauvia gaudichaudii)*
Beadplant (Nertera granadensis)
Pale Maiden (Olsynium filifolium)
Hooker’s Sweet Cicely (Oreomyrrhis hookeri)
Scurvygrass (Oxalis enneaphylla)
Thrift Plantain (Plantago barbata)
Bluegrass (Poa alopecurus)
Tussac (Poa flabellata)
Shore Meadow-grass (Poa robusta)
Berry-lobelia (Pratia repens)
Antarctic Buttercup (Ranunculus biternatus)
Marsh Buttercup (Ranunculus hydrophilus)
Falkland Buttercup (Ranunculus maclovianus)
Silky Buttercup (Ranunculus sericocephalus)
Ladle-leaved Buttercup (Ranunculus trullifolius)
Short Rush (Rostkovia magellanica)
Falkland Strawberry (Rubus geoides)
Southern Dock (Rumex magellanicus)
California Club-rush (Schoenoplectus californicus)
Sea Cabbage (Senecio candidans)
Stitchwort (Stellaria debilis)
Gillie’s Dandelion (Taraxacum gilliesii)
Common Violet (Viola maculata)
Fuegian Violet (Viola magellanica)
