These rocky islands support a variety of plant life, such as tussock grasses, that has adapted to the snowy and icy conditions.

The islands are home to birds and insects such as butterflies, moths, weevils, and spiders as well as wildlife typical of the southern oceans such as penguins, seals and seabirds.

This ecoregion is a melting pot where related Antarctic and subantarctic species and subspecies co-exist, for example the following can all be found here: the sooty albatrosses (Phoebetria fusca), light-mantled albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata), northern giant petrel (Macronectes halli), southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus), Antarctic fur seal (Arctophoca gazella) and subantarctic fur seal (Arctophoca tropicalis) on Prince Edward, Crozet and Heard Islands.

These isolated islands are relatively unspoilt but their wildlife is not very varied and therefore can be quickly damaged by any human activity and particularly by introduced species of both plants and animals.

Another particular threat is the danger to diving seabirds caught by long-line fishing of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in the seas around the islands; gray-headed albatross and white-chinned petrel have been especially damaged by this industry as they habitually follow fishing boats.