Wildlife of the Galapagos Islands
This video discusses different species on the Galapagos Islands. Some of these species discussed in the video are: the Galapagos sea lion, the Galapagos penguin, finches, turtles, tortoises, and the flightless cormorant. The flightless cormorant caught my attention during the video. The story that the video told was that the flightless cormorant is thought to have arrived at the Galapagos Islands by flight, which would entail that they have evolved to no longer use the function of flight. They are now diving birds rather than flying birds. As time progressed, they had become better divers which allowed them to explore food sources in the water at deeper depths for longer periods of time. The birds have webbed feet and thick legs in order to help them move better in water. Although the birds cannot fly, the wings still serve a purpose; the wings help this bird species to remain balanced. It was also interesting to me that they do not have predators that will try to get at these birds. Since they did not have any predators, they simply filled up an empty niche when they came onto the islands. The video also highlighted some of the finches: the dull colored grassquit, frigate birds, yellow warbler, small ground finch, medium ground finch, large ground finch, and the cactus finch. It was interesting to learn about the differences between each type of bird as well as the differences between the bird species from island to island.
Figure 1: An image of a flightless cormorant.
Conserving the Last Eden
This speaker had discussed the large variety of species that can be found on the islands. He had went into detail about how each of these species are important and unique. I think that this video was good for people who did not have much knowledge about these different species. As this was the last video I watched, I feel like it touches briefly on topics that the other pieces assigned covered thoroughly.
Figure 2: An image of a Galapagos penguin.
Galapagos Islands and Machu Pichu
In this video, the narrator discusses a trip to Ecuador which then followed a trip to Peru. In this video, the narrator talks about how they landed in Quito, Ecuador and then went to the islands. Many of the wildlife in Ecuador were mentioned in the video. First, the narrator talks about the sea lions that they had crossed paths with on their trip. He described these creatures as very social as they approached the boat that they were sailing on. He and his travel group had also went to an area called Targus Cove and Darwin’s Lake. After departing from this area, the group had seen marine iguanas, whales, and many different types of birds. They had gone to a volcanic area, they had called it “the lava walk,” in which they were able to see marine iguanas, large tortoises, flightless cormorants, and a diverse population of finches. The video at timestamp 35:52 showed a baby booby. I did not know that the less mature boobies were as fuzzy as they appeared. After showing the baby boobies, they video showed the blue-footed boobies performing their mating dance.
Figure 3: An image of a baby booby.
Evolution in the Galapagos
This video discussed that over time, the living creatures changed. Alan Alda is an individual who discusses this phenomenon. He explained that living things are not designed according to a set plan, but rather that they are shaped to adapt to the world around them. Dave Anderson is also in this video. Anderson is a biologist who has been permitted to come to the Galapagos Islands year after year in order to conduct his own research. The study of his that is discussed in this video is about bird behavior and characteristics. He expands on the fact that the same species can look different on different islands.
The end of the video discusses the concept of adaptation to the world around each species. It explains that in every generation there is a large range of beak sizes. Depending on the conditions that occurred in the birds lifespan prior to reproduction will dictate the size of the beaks for the following generations. For example, if small seeds are more abundant, the next generation will have smaller beaks. This would be the case because it would take more energy for the larger beaked birds to consume the small seeds. As a result, the larger beaked birds get themselves into an energy deficit which then causes the female birds with larger beaks to be weaker upon reproduction. This means that it will have less offspring than those birds with smaller beaks.
The end of the video discusses the concept of adaptation to the world around each species. It explains that in every generation there is a large range of beak sizes. Depending on the conditions that occurred in the birds lifespan prior to reproduction will dictate the size of the beaks for the following generations. For example, if small seeds are more abundant, the next generation will have smaller beaks. This would be the case because it would take more energy for the larger beaked birds to consume the small seeds. As a result, the larger beaked birds get themselves into an energy deficit which then causes the female birds with larger beaks to be weaker upon reproduction. This means that it will have less offspring than those birds with smaller beaks.
Figure 4: An image of Darwin's Finches.
Galapagos Finch evolution
The purpose of this video was to explore how new species form. The video introduces Peter and Rosemary Grant and their research on Darwin’s finches in smaller islands such as Daphne Major. I thought that it was very impressive that they have returned every summer since the year of 1973. It was noted that among the 13 species of finches that were included in Darwin’s study, they appeared in different combinations on some of the different islands. This was thought to be due to the different vegetation that were found on each of the islands due to the fact that this vegetation was what made up their habitats. With these different plant species, the finches have had to adapt to their environment in order to increase their chance of survival to reproductive age.
There are two main theories about how these bird species came to be. The one theory is that they all of the different species of birds migrated from the mainland to these different islands where they adapted to fit their environment. The other theory is that they were all one species and eventually adapted to their environment in each of the islands. There is evidence supporting that all of the species were more closely related than those that could be found on the mainland.
Through the tagging of birds from the Grants, it was able to be concluded that after the drought in 1977, approximately 80% of the small ground finches died. This was due to the fact that there was minimal small seed production which then meant that they would have to find other food. To obtain this other food, they expended a lot of energy for very little pay off. Among the surviving small ground finch species, it was noted that they all had slightly larger than average beak sizes. When these birds reproduced, the species evolved so that they had a greater average depth of their beak. Just the opposite happened in 1983 when the islands experienced a harsh El Nino. With this event, the larger seeds became more scarce which then caused the larger beaked birds to perish. Since the smaller beaked birds survived, their offspring had a smaller average beak size. From these two situations, we can conclude that environmental events cause the finches to change in a short duration of time in order to increase their likelihood of survival.
There are two main theories about how these bird species came to be. The one theory is that they all of the different species of birds migrated from the mainland to these different islands where they adapted to fit their environment. The other theory is that they were all one species and eventually adapted to their environment in each of the islands. There is evidence supporting that all of the species were more closely related than those that could be found on the mainland.
Through the tagging of birds from the Grants, it was able to be concluded that after the drought in 1977, approximately 80% of the small ground finches died. This was due to the fact that there was minimal small seed production which then meant that they would have to find other food. To obtain this other food, they expended a lot of energy for very little pay off. Among the surviving small ground finch species, it was noted that they all had slightly larger than average beak sizes. When these birds reproduced, the species evolved so that they had a greater average depth of their beak. Just the opposite happened in 1983 when the islands experienced a harsh El Nino. With this event, the larger seeds became more scarce which then caused the larger beaked birds to perish. Since the smaller beaked birds survived, their offspring had a smaller average beak size. From these two situations, we can conclude that environmental events cause the finches to change in a short duration of time in order to increase their likelihood of survival.
Figure 5: An image of the movement of surface waters under normal conditions versus under the conditions of El Nino.
The origin of birds
An interesting fact that the video introduces is that there are more than 10,000 bird species with feathered wings. It was thought that birds originated from a flightless bird-like animal during the dinosaur ages. These flightless birds had wings that were featherless which allowed the animal to move more rapidly. This discovery was found through fossil record with the finding of Archaeopteryx which is approximately 150 million years old. This fossil showed that these creatures had small details in their wings similar to what we see in modern birds. These creatures were described to be more boney than modern birds and more similar to modern reptilians. Another dinosaur that people speculate birds came from is the pterodactyl. The pterodactyl and archaeopteryx had evolved separately which can be seen in the feathers of each creature. The pterodactyl had a longer fourth digit which attached to the wing, whereas the archaeopteryx had individual feathers. Feathers were not initially used for flight, but rather to serve the purpose for insulation as well as assist in communication and mating.
In 1963, a man named John Ostrom was in the badlands of Montana when he had found a claw. This claw was once attached to a dinosaur and served a purpose of slashing. This was an important discovery because it showed that dinosaurs were not all slow moving and use their massive bodies to fight for food. This then changed people’s worldview to include fast, smaller dinosaurs. Another researcher, Jack Horner had also made an important discovery that some species of dinosaurs had laid their eggs in colonies similar to modern day birds. Scientists had also discussed co-option which talks about the modification of a structure in order to serve a new purpose. This can be seen with feathers and their change in function as time progressed.
In 1963, a man named John Ostrom was in the badlands of Montana when he had found a claw. This claw was once attached to a dinosaur and served a purpose of slashing. This was an important discovery because it showed that dinosaurs were not all slow moving and use their massive bodies to fight for food. This then changed people’s worldview to include fast, smaller dinosaurs. Another researcher, Jack Horner had also made an important discovery that some species of dinosaurs had laid their eggs in colonies similar to modern day birds. Scientists had also discussed co-option which talks about the modification of a structure in order to serve a new purpose. This can be seen with feathers and their change in function as time progressed.
Figure 6: An image of a fossil of the Archaeopteryx that was found in Germany.
Love in the animal kingdom
These two videos highlighted the Boobies that could be found on the Galapagos Islands. The first video described how the Blue-footed Boobies danced and the importance of this ritual. Before the male birds can even begin the mating dance, the females judge the brightness of their webbed feet because they indicate health. The mating ritual that the Blue-footed boobies perform creates partnerships for the Blue-footed Boobies. The dance consists of the bird throwing its head back and spreading their wings out. The dance is performed by the one bird mirroring the moves of the other bird in order to test the compatibility between the birds in question. Even if the male and female form a partnership, the dancing continues during their nesting period.
The other video shows how Boobies are feeding. From the video, it seemed that there was a large group of birds, maybe even a hundred or a few hundred. These birds flew in a group together until they find a spot in which they think they would be successful in their dive to catch fish. At this point, they all dive down at about the same time. Once they are done with their dive, they go back into their group formation.
The other video shows how Boobies are feeding. From the video, it seemed that there was a large group of birds, maybe even a hundred or a few hundred. These birds flew in a group together until they find a spot in which they think they would be successful in their dive to catch fish. At this point, they all dive down at about the same time. Once they are done with their dive, they go back into their group formation.
Figure 7: An image of a pair of Blue-footed Boobies.
Submarine morphology
This paper discusses the use of high-resolution EM300 multibeam bathymetry and MR1 side-scan sonar data which had previously been collected in order to explore the concept of volcanic morphology of the flanks of the western Galapagos Islands. The data that was collected from previous research allowed the researchers to map out submarine flanks, rift zones, and groups of cones located in Fernandina Island, Isabela Island, and Santiago Island. EM300 data had allowed researchers to determine that the deep lava flows had originated from small cones along the mid-lower portion of the NW submarine rift of Fernandina. This morphology and structure of these islands in this area provide researchers with the knowledge and insight relating to how these islands developed into the structures that they are in modern-day.
This study specifically looked into the three most western of the Galapagos Islands: Fernandina, Isabela, and Santiago Islands. There are five geomorphic provinces in the western Galapagos Archipelago that are the focus of the study: submarine rift zones, large deep-water lava fields, shallow steep-sloped submarine flanks, mass-wasting and erosional deposits, and submarine terraces. The scientists in this study also map small-scale volcanic structures with the EM300 system. In the data analysis for this study, the term “rift zone” is used which refers to the linear or gently curving ridges greater than several kilometers in length which extends sub-perpendicularly away from the volcanic islands.
Four main rift-zone associated morphologies were categorized based on the data collected from the EM300 bathymetric. These four morphologies include: pointed cones, cones with deep craters, flat-topped cones, and vents. Pointed cones are known to have steep slopes which are predominantly elongated. Rift-zone cones with deep craters have cone diameters which range from 500 to 2000 meters.
Non-rift-zone-associated volcanic morphologies were also categorized into three categories. These categories would be pointed cones, flat-topped cones, and breached cones. The EM300 bathymetric data was used to determine these three groups. When comparing the cones of the islands, the depth of each are considered. Pointed cones and flat-topped cones can have different depths. The pointed cones typically have a depth which is less than 1500 meters, whereas the water depths of the flat topped are more than 1500 meters.
The use of high-resolution EM300 bathymetric had allowed for a lot of new findings to be made. The analysis of such data had enabled researchers to get information about small-scale morphological features which then allowed the examination of the seafloor of the Galapagos. I think that the use of such technology is incredibly useful. As time progresses and new technology is invented, I think that it is very admirable that the technology includes the scientific market rather than communications and social interactivity.
This study specifically looked into the three most western of the Galapagos Islands: Fernandina, Isabela, and Santiago Islands. There are five geomorphic provinces in the western Galapagos Archipelago that are the focus of the study: submarine rift zones, large deep-water lava fields, shallow steep-sloped submarine flanks, mass-wasting and erosional deposits, and submarine terraces. The scientists in this study also map small-scale volcanic structures with the EM300 system. In the data analysis for this study, the term “rift zone” is used which refers to the linear or gently curving ridges greater than several kilometers in length which extends sub-perpendicularly away from the volcanic islands.
Four main rift-zone associated morphologies were categorized based on the data collected from the EM300 bathymetric. These four morphologies include: pointed cones, cones with deep craters, flat-topped cones, and vents. Pointed cones are known to have steep slopes which are predominantly elongated. Rift-zone cones with deep craters have cone diameters which range from 500 to 2000 meters.
Non-rift-zone-associated volcanic morphologies were also categorized into three categories. These categories would be pointed cones, flat-topped cones, and breached cones. The EM300 bathymetric data was used to determine these three groups. When comparing the cones of the islands, the depth of each are considered. Pointed cones and flat-topped cones can have different depths. The pointed cones typically have a depth which is less than 1500 meters, whereas the water depths of the flat topped are more than 1500 meters.
The use of high-resolution EM300 bathymetric had allowed for a lot of new findings to be made. The analysis of such data had enabled researchers to get information about small-scale morphological features which then allowed the examination of the seafloor of the Galapagos. I think that the use of such technology is incredibly useful. As time progresses and new technology is invented, I think that it is very admirable that the technology includes the scientific market rather than communications and social interactivity.
Figure 8: An image of the submarine volcanic morphology based on data from the EM300 bathymetry and MR1 side-scan sonar.
Galapagos pop growth & tourism
This paper described a study in which the management efforts in the Galapagos were identified. In addition to this, the quantity of economic forces was determined in relation to the types and pace of the changes that take place in the Galapagos archipelago. The focus of this study is on the revenues that are generated through tourism and their impacts on the economies, population growth, and conservation attempts on a national and local level.
The paper describes that the Galapagos prior to the organization of tourism was more rustic and little was known about it in the scientific community. The small economy that Ecuador had was based on agriculture and fishing. Since this point, tourism has skyrocketed. It was noted that the first “tour ship” that visited the islands was the Stella Polaris in 1934. Once the bucolic settlements colonized four of the islands in the late 1950s, life began to change. Tourism had reached the islands which was shocking to some because no one had envisioned that the islands would attract so many different individuals. In the 1960s, an airstrip was added in order to try to take advantage of the revenue that was being made from the tourism industry. This airstrip was utilized twice a week when planes would shuttle in tourists, colonists, and scientists between the mainland of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Some smaller island-based vessels were used in order to charter individuals around.
During the early 1970s, there was a “floating hotel” which housed tourists that were visiting the islands briefly were paired with trained guides. During the late 1970s and the early 1980s, tourism had begun to pick up again. Santa Cruz is noted to be the industry hub due to its central location among the archipelago as well as its close proximity to the airstrip located on Baltra.
In order to try to maximize the control over tourism and its harmful effects to the environment, guidelines were put in place to put a limit on how many tourists can come onto the islands during a given time. The official guidelines was that only 12,000 tourists per year were to be allowed in, but 18,000 tourists had actually made their way onto the islands in 1980. A government commission had evaluated the situation on the islands and determined that the limit of tourists could be increased to 25,000 tourists per year without there being intense environmental repercussions.
Eventually, the amount of tourists that came onto the islands per year had decreased. It is speculated that several factors had contributed to this decline. Since there was a lingering recession in many of the developed countries, there has been a decrease in the demand of consumers to travel to the islands. Another factor to the declination of tourism is that the economic conditions of Ecuador was plummeting world prices of oil and spiraling rates of inflation. On top of that, exorbitant interest rates paired with currency devaluation greatly impaired the country’s ability to expand in the increasingly globalized marketplace.
From the year 1985 to 1990, the number of visitors to the island had increased by approximately 23,000 before it then increased again in the year 2000 by 31,000 to reach a total of 72,000 visitors. There was a slight decrease during 2001 that can be attributed to the terrorist attack on 9/11, but besides that slight decline, the quantity of visitors was still increasing. In fact, the number of visitors had increased to 122,000 in the year of 2005. In 1993, the country had decided to install an entrance fee to get onto the islands and later in 1998, 24-hour electricity had become available.
Ecotourism, defined by the World Conservation Union, is “environmentally responsible travel and visitation to natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features, both past, and present)that promote conservation, have a low visitor impact, and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local people.” Ecotourism has had an immense influence on Ecuador. It is noted that there is not much of an impact on visitor sites, but there is more impact on the colonized areas. Colonized areas have had their land taken away in order to build hotels and other tourist attractions. This then caused urban sprawl which has came closer and closer to the highlands.
The paper goes into detail about the different types of tourists as well as what has been done in order to accommodate so many individuals. During the 1980s, a “cupo” system was implemented in which they had attempted to control tourism on the islands. Cupos are quotas which grant an individual, family, or company the right to carry up to a specific number of passengers during a cruise to visit the protected areas of the islands.
I thought that this paper was very interesting. I knew that tourism in Ecuador has a great impact on the economy and the environment, but I did not realize the depth of it. It was interesting to see the different types of tourists and the effects that each have on the islands.
The paper describes that the Galapagos prior to the organization of tourism was more rustic and little was known about it in the scientific community. The small economy that Ecuador had was based on agriculture and fishing. Since this point, tourism has skyrocketed. It was noted that the first “tour ship” that visited the islands was the Stella Polaris in 1934. Once the bucolic settlements colonized four of the islands in the late 1950s, life began to change. Tourism had reached the islands which was shocking to some because no one had envisioned that the islands would attract so many different individuals. In the 1960s, an airstrip was added in order to try to take advantage of the revenue that was being made from the tourism industry. This airstrip was utilized twice a week when planes would shuttle in tourists, colonists, and scientists between the mainland of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Some smaller island-based vessels were used in order to charter individuals around.
During the early 1970s, there was a “floating hotel” which housed tourists that were visiting the islands briefly were paired with trained guides. During the late 1970s and the early 1980s, tourism had begun to pick up again. Santa Cruz is noted to be the industry hub due to its central location among the archipelago as well as its close proximity to the airstrip located on Baltra.
In order to try to maximize the control over tourism and its harmful effects to the environment, guidelines were put in place to put a limit on how many tourists can come onto the islands during a given time. The official guidelines was that only 12,000 tourists per year were to be allowed in, but 18,000 tourists had actually made their way onto the islands in 1980. A government commission had evaluated the situation on the islands and determined that the limit of tourists could be increased to 25,000 tourists per year without there being intense environmental repercussions.
Eventually, the amount of tourists that came onto the islands per year had decreased. It is speculated that several factors had contributed to this decline. Since there was a lingering recession in many of the developed countries, there has been a decrease in the demand of consumers to travel to the islands. Another factor to the declination of tourism is that the economic conditions of Ecuador was plummeting world prices of oil and spiraling rates of inflation. On top of that, exorbitant interest rates paired with currency devaluation greatly impaired the country’s ability to expand in the increasingly globalized marketplace.
From the year 1985 to 1990, the number of visitors to the island had increased by approximately 23,000 before it then increased again in the year 2000 by 31,000 to reach a total of 72,000 visitors. There was a slight decrease during 2001 that can be attributed to the terrorist attack on 9/11, but besides that slight decline, the quantity of visitors was still increasing. In fact, the number of visitors had increased to 122,000 in the year of 2005. In 1993, the country had decided to install an entrance fee to get onto the islands and later in 1998, 24-hour electricity had become available.
Ecotourism, defined by the World Conservation Union, is “environmentally responsible travel and visitation to natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features, both past, and present)that promote conservation, have a low visitor impact, and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local people.” Ecotourism has had an immense influence on Ecuador. It is noted that there is not much of an impact on visitor sites, but there is more impact on the colonized areas. Colonized areas have had their land taken away in order to build hotels and other tourist attractions. This then caused urban sprawl which has came closer and closer to the highlands.
The paper goes into detail about the different types of tourists as well as what has been done in order to accommodate so many individuals. During the 1980s, a “cupo” system was implemented in which they had attempted to control tourism on the islands. Cupos are quotas which grant an individual, family, or company the right to carry up to a specific number of passengers during a cruise to visit the protected areas of the islands.
I thought that this paper was very interesting. I knew that tourism in Ecuador has a great impact on the economy and the environment, but I did not realize the depth of it. It was interesting to see the different types of tourists and the effects that each have on the islands.
Figure 9: An image of tourists and locals on the streets in Quito, Ecuador.
Galapagos sustainable ecotourism
This paper talks about ecotourism. It begins by talking about how young professionals travel to places in the world from their desire to experience places of ecological importance. With these tourists who have concern for the health of the environment in the future and individuals who live in such areas of ecological importance, they both have a common goal to preserve the environment and sustain ecotourism. This would then bring countries together, foster technology transfer, and increases revenues for the local economy.
Ecotourism has both positive and negative contributions to local governments. On one hand, ecotourism damages exotic species introductions as well as human population growth and extraction of resources for exportation. These three factors all contribute to the reduction of biodiversity and the quantity of species. In addition to this, ship traffic as a result of tourism has resulted in the introduction of alien species as well as the transportation of exotic species around the different islands. On the other hand, the tourism industry brings in a lot of profit for the islands.
More recently, Craig MacFarland, the president of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos, had discussed what was needed for the ecotourism industry of the islands. He explains that there needs to be constant scientific monitoring of the animal and plant species as well as the habitats that these species can be found in. In addition, he points out that there needs to be attentive management of the ecotourism sites on the islands. MacFarland warns about the need to improve the zoning of the islands, the impacts that new kinds of tourism as well as the expansion of tourism, the decline in conservation ethics among boat operators and guides, the competition between tourists and native for basic services, the need for observation of the impacts that tourism has, and the adjustment of visitor management.
I think that this paper was interesting to see the different regulations about ecotourism. This article reminded me of the oil industry in Ecuador. This is because there are benefits and drawbacks of the service. On one hand, the practice boosts the economy greatly. On the other hand, it damages the environment. As countries develop, it makes sense as to why the increased revenues outweigh the environmental concerns.
Ecotourism has both positive and negative contributions to local governments. On one hand, ecotourism damages exotic species introductions as well as human population growth and extraction of resources for exportation. These three factors all contribute to the reduction of biodiversity and the quantity of species. In addition to this, ship traffic as a result of tourism has resulted in the introduction of alien species as well as the transportation of exotic species around the different islands. On the other hand, the tourism industry brings in a lot of profit for the islands.
More recently, Craig MacFarland, the president of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos, had discussed what was needed for the ecotourism industry of the islands. He explains that there needs to be constant scientific monitoring of the animal and plant species as well as the habitats that these species can be found in. In addition, he points out that there needs to be attentive management of the ecotourism sites on the islands. MacFarland warns about the need to improve the zoning of the islands, the impacts that new kinds of tourism as well as the expansion of tourism, the decline in conservation ethics among boat operators and guides, the competition between tourists and native for basic services, the need for observation of the impacts that tourism has, and the adjustment of visitor management.
I think that this paper was interesting to see the different regulations about ecotourism. This article reminded me of the oil industry in Ecuador. This is because there are benefits and drawbacks of the service. On one hand, the practice boosts the economy greatly. On the other hand, it damages the environment. As countries develop, it makes sense as to why the increased revenues outweigh the environmental concerns.
Figure 10: An image of the Galapagos Legend cruise ship which is one of the cruises that tourists can pay for to visit the Galapagos Islands.
Galapagos conservation UNEP
Four of the islands in the Galapagos are inhabited. These four islands are Santa Crúz, San Cristóbal, Isabela and Floreana. Since many of these islands are uninhabited, the animals are a lot more friendly since they evolved without the instinct of fight or flight. The first written account of the Galapagos was in the year 1535 by a man named Tomas de Berlanga. He had described that the islands were filled with the presence of many animals such as seals, turtles, iguanas, and birds. In current time, tourists are able to enjoy swimming with sharks and sea lions as well as being able to take a front row seat to see the mating rituals of native birds.
The presence of these of these animals have declined over the years due to the increase in the fishing industry. Illegal fisheries add stress on the marine resources on the islands. Many of the marine species have been known to get caught in the gear that these fisheries use as well as sea cucumbers being taken from the seafloor. In addition to these fisheries, the introduction of invasive species and feral animals have put the evolutionary processes of native species in danger.
The position of the Galapagos Archipelago is so unique due to the fact that it is situated where major ocean currents converge. This means that the islands get nutrient-rich cool waters from the south, warm currents from the north, and a deep cold current from the west. The Galapagos Archipelago is also at a point where it is influenced by El Nino which can alter climate conditions. The volcanic presence and activity also alters the environment in which the native species inhabit. In addition, the islands had not begun to be colonized until later in its development. This would then allow for the species to be able to arrive and establish themselves. All of these factors have allowed the Galapagos Archipelago to be home to so many endemic species.
The fishing industry and its lack of enforced regulations negatively impact the Ecuadorian community. overharvesting of fish paired with the removal of mature reef predators cause the marine tourism to bring in less revenue. In order to get some order, the Galapagos community wanted to address the corruption of illegal fishing. In the year of 1996, there was a viable draft of the Galapagos Special Law. This draft, if approved, this law would provide for the stewardship of the Galapagos ecosystems as well as provide incentives to promote biodiversity.
The paper then talked about the Grupo Nucleo which was the tactical team responsible for encouraging local participation in the Marine Reserve Chapter of the Special Law. This law had outlined three main components which include: the ratification of the Protected Area status of the Galapagos National Park Service, the expansion of the Marine Reserve, and the institutionalization of participatory management. In 1998, the Galapagos Special Law was passed. This new version of this law was implemented in order to provide a legal framework for the protection of the Galapagos Islands and address many of the conservation concerns that were arising.
It was interesting to read about the laws that were trying to be implemented for the same cause for multiple years. I think that an incentive program is a good idea in order to bolster support for the protection of biodiversity. It was also nice that the paper outlined some major drawbacks that the fishing industry has on coastal communities such as the Galapagos Islands and parts of Ecuador.
The presence of these of these animals have declined over the years due to the increase in the fishing industry. Illegal fisheries add stress on the marine resources on the islands. Many of the marine species have been known to get caught in the gear that these fisheries use as well as sea cucumbers being taken from the seafloor. In addition to these fisheries, the introduction of invasive species and feral animals have put the evolutionary processes of native species in danger.
The position of the Galapagos Archipelago is so unique due to the fact that it is situated where major ocean currents converge. This means that the islands get nutrient-rich cool waters from the south, warm currents from the north, and a deep cold current from the west. The Galapagos Archipelago is also at a point where it is influenced by El Nino which can alter climate conditions. The volcanic presence and activity also alters the environment in which the native species inhabit. In addition, the islands had not begun to be colonized until later in its development. This would then allow for the species to be able to arrive and establish themselves. All of these factors have allowed the Galapagos Archipelago to be home to so many endemic species.
The fishing industry and its lack of enforced regulations negatively impact the Ecuadorian community. overharvesting of fish paired with the removal of mature reef predators cause the marine tourism to bring in less revenue. In order to get some order, the Galapagos community wanted to address the corruption of illegal fishing. In the year of 1996, there was a viable draft of the Galapagos Special Law. This draft, if approved, this law would provide for the stewardship of the Galapagos ecosystems as well as provide incentives to promote biodiversity.
The paper then talked about the Grupo Nucleo which was the tactical team responsible for encouraging local participation in the Marine Reserve Chapter of the Special Law. This law had outlined three main components which include: the ratification of the Protected Area status of the Galapagos National Park Service, the expansion of the Marine Reserve, and the institutionalization of participatory management. In 1998, the Galapagos Special Law was passed. This new version of this law was implemented in order to provide a legal framework for the protection of the Galapagos Islands and address many of the conservation concerns that were arising.
It was interesting to read about the laws that were trying to be implemented for the same cause for multiple years. I think that an incentive program is a good idea in order to bolster support for the protection of biodiversity. It was also nice that the paper outlined some major drawbacks that the fishing industry has on coastal communities such as the Galapagos Islands and parts of Ecuador.
Figure 11: An image of a fishing boat off the coast of Ecuador.
Resources
“Conserving the Last Eden: Research Experiences in the Galapagos Islands.” Youtube, 15 Sept. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q_UHud8OCU.
Epler, Bruce. “Tourism, the Economy, Population Growth, and Conservation in Galapagos.” amalavidaexperience.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/0/2/39029957/paper-galapagospopgrowthtourism07.pdf.
“Evolution in the Galapagos.” Youtube, 11 Nov. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3265bno2X0&feature=youtu.be.
“Galapagos Documentary.” Youtube, 18 Oct. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKzwsQTa8-0&list=PLyOVSbari5z8dF-o3H7aY8PJpPwLesLOT&index=2.
“Galapagos Finch Evolution — HHMI BioInteractive Video.” Youtube, 26 Aug. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcM23M-CCog&feature=youtu.be.
“Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu 2013.” Youtube, 15 Sept. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO2KmnalAoI.
Liackman, Bailey, director. Blue Footed Booby Feeding Frenzy. Youtube, 16 Oct. 2007, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqGAAIow-Q8&feature=youtu.be.
“Nature | Dance of the Blue-Footed Booby | Love in The Animal Kingdom | PBS.” Youtube, 1 Nov. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=z922by9_6Fw&feature=youtu.be.
Novy, Julia W. “INCENTIVE MEASURES FOR CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.” amalavidaexperience.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/0/2/39029957/paper-ecuadorgalapagosconservation.pdf.
“The Origin of Birds — HHMI BioInteractive Video.” Youtube, 13 Feb. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4nuWLd2ivc&feature=youtu.be.
Sitnik, Marsha. “Sustainable Ecotourism: The Galapagos Balance.” amalavidaexperience.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/0/2/39029957/paper-galapagossustainableecotourism.pdf.
Epler, Bruce. “Tourism, the Economy, Population Growth, and Conservation in Galapagos.” amalavidaexperience.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/0/2/39029957/paper-galapagospopgrowthtourism07.pdf.
“Evolution in the Galapagos.” Youtube, 11 Nov. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3265bno2X0&feature=youtu.be.
“Galapagos Documentary.” Youtube, 18 Oct. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKzwsQTa8-0&list=PLyOVSbari5z8dF-o3H7aY8PJpPwLesLOT&index=2.
“Galapagos Finch Evolution — HHMI BioInteractive Video.” Youtube, 26 Aug. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcM23M-CCog&feature=youtu.be.
“Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu 2013.” Youtube, 15 Sept. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO2KmnalAoI.
Liackman, Bailey, director. Blue Footed Booby Feeding Frenzy. Youtube, 16 Oct. 2007, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqGAAIow-Q8&feature=youtu.be.
“Nature | Dance of the Blue-Footed Booby | Love in The Animal Kingdom | PBS.” Youtube, 1 Nov. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=z922by9_6Fw&feature=youtu.be.
Novy, Julia W. “INCENTIVE MEASURES FOR CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.” amalavidaexperience.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/0/2/39029957/paper-ecuadorgalapagosconservation.pdf.
“The Origin of Birds — HHMI BioInteractive Video.” Youtube, 13 Feb. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4nuWLd2ivc&feature=youtu.be.
Sitnik, Marsha. “Sustainable Ecotourism: The Galapagos Balance.” amalavidaexperience.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/0/2/39029957/paper-galapagossustainableecotourism.pdf.