{{Short description|Island in South Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox islands | name = Paisley Islet | map = South Australia | map_caption = | location = [[Great Australian Bight]] | country = Australia | population = 0 }}
'''Paisley Islet''' (also known as '''West Bay Islet''') is an [[islet]] located in the [[Great Australian Bight]] immediately off the west coast of [[Kangaroo Island]] in [[South Australia]] approximately {{convert|104|km|abbr=off}} west south-west of [[Kingscote, South Australia|Kingscote]]. It is currently part of the [[Flinders Chase National Park]].
==Description== Paisley Islet is approximately {{convert|104|km|abbr=off}} west south-west of [[Kingscote, South Australia|Kingscote]]. It is an extension of the southern headland of West Bay and is only separated from the mainland by tide or wind driven waves. It can be reached by walking along the rock isthmus at low tide.<ref name= page295>{{cite web|author1 = Robinson A. C.|title=South Australia's offshore islands|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5a7dbb25-70b9-4ceb-bbfd-a25800961994/offshore-islands-gen.pdf|publisher=Australian Heritage Commission|access-date=13 December 2013|author2 = Canty, P.| author3 = Mooney, T.| author4 = Rudduck, P.|pages=295|year=1996}}</ref>
==Formation, geology and oceanography== Paisley Islet was formed about 7500 years ago after sea levels rose at the start of the [[Holocene]].<ref>{{cite book|title=A Biological Survey of Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 1989 & 1990|date=1999 |publisher=Heritage and Biodiversity Section, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, South Australia|location=Adelaide, SA|isbn=0-7308-5862-6 |pages=26|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/fb13b9bf-5c8e-445c-9c3c-a1c600c14815/ki-biological-survey-climate-geology-landuse-gen.pdf|editor=Robinson, A. C. |editor2=Armstrong, D. M.|access-date=1 May 2014}}</ref> The islet consists of basement rock of [[Kanmantoo group]] metasandstone which extends to the mainland. The central portion of the islet is topped with a layer of Bridgewater Formation [[calcarenite]] which is in turn capped with a layer of [[calcrete]]. Layers of soil lie in depressions within the calcrete layer.<ref name= page295/> The islet is located in waters of a depth of about {{convert|9.1|m|abbr=off}} that partially conceal [[wave-cut platform]]s and that are subject to rolling seas.<ref name=Chart14>{{Citation | author1=South Australia. Department of Marine and Harbors | title=The Waters of South Australia a series of charts, sailing notes and coastal photographs | publication-date=1985 | publisher=Dept. of Marine and Harbors, South Australia | pages= Chart 14|isbn=978-0-7243-7603-2 }}</ref>
==Flora and fauna== As of 1996, the rim of the calcarenite cap has been colonised by [[Disphyma crassifolium subsp. clavellatum|roundleaved pigface]], and [[Apium prostratum|sea celery]]. Species found on the central portion of the islet included dwarfed [[Atriplex paludosa|marsh saltbush]], [[Nitraria billardierei|nitre-bush]], [[Frankenia pauciflora|southern sea-heath]] and [[Enchylaena tomentosa|ruby saltbush]]. Species such as [[Austrostipa|feather spear-grass]] and variable groundsel appear after seasonal rain.<ref name= page295/> [[Vertebrate]] animals were represented by birds, mammals and reptiles. A survey conducted in 1996 found that the islet is used as a breeding site, possibly during milder weather, for [[greater crested tern|crested terns]] and as a site for roosting and feeding by [[red-capped plover|red-capped dotterels]], [[sooty oystercatcher]]s, [[rock parrot]]s, [[welcome swallow]]s and [[Australian pipit]]. It was also observed that the islet was being used as a [[haul out]] by bull [[Australian sea lion]]s. The [[four-toed earless skink]] was the only reptile found in 1996.<ref name= page295/>
==Protected area status== The islet is part of the Flinders Chase National Park and has been specifically proclaimed as a prohibited area in order to protect breeding seabirds such as crested terns.<ref name= page295/><ref name= page147>{{cite web|author1 = Robinson A. C.|title=South Australia's offshore islands|url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5a7dbb25-70b9-4ceb-bbfd-a25800961994/offshore-islands-gen.pdf|publisher=Australian Heritage Commission|access-date=13 December 2013|author2 = Canty, P.| author3 = Mooney, T.| author4 = Rudduck, P.|pages=147|year=1996}}</ref> Since December 2012, the waters around the islet has been part of a habitat protection zone located within the boundaries of the [[Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park (state waters)|Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park Management Plan 2012|url= http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5531fc53-c6cf-4f8c-b518-a11700a1d969/mp-gen-16westernkangarooisland-managementplan.pdf|publisher=Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources|access-date=15 May 2014|pages=28|year=2012}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} {{Kangaroo Island}} {{Islands of South Australia |state=collapsed}} {{coord|35|54|S|136|32|E|display=title|region:AU_type:isle_source:GNS-enwiki}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paisley Islet}} [[Category:Uninhabited islands of Australia]] [[Category:Kangaroo Island]] [[Category:Coastal towns in South Australia]] [[Category:Islands of South Australia]]