2. 1. General Description
2. What is so special about them?
3. Darwin‘s Observations
4. Evolution
5. Threats
Content
3. The famous Galapagos Islands are a group of 19 volcanic
islands in the Pacific Ocean, about 1000 km away from
the South American Continent.
Lie around the Equator
Part of Ecuador
Form an Ecuadorean Province
Official Language: Spanish
Population: 25,000
General Description
4. Discovered by Fray Tomás de Berlanga, the fourth
Bishop of Panama
High Biodiversity and distinct Flora and Fauna
UNESCO World Heritage since 1978
General Description
5. Have been called a unique ‘living museum and
showcase of evolution’.
Inhibits many unique species, which can only be
found there
Have an amazing environmental structure and
biodiversity
What is so special about them ?
6. The Galapagos islands inspired Darwin to
the Discovery of the Concept of Evolution
He noticed that the species were similar from island
to island but they had small, distinct differences,
which helped them being best suited to their
environment, and conditions such as food sources,
which varied from island to island
Darwin‘s Observations
7. Finches:
Depending on temperatures (dry and wet years),
which are responsible for more soft or harder nut
shells, beak size in Finches differs
With their beak size, body size increases, as well as
their ability to crack nuts in larger sizes improves
Tortoises:
Depending on the regular height of the vegetation
on the islands, some tortoise populations had
shorter and some had longer necks and feet
There is great variation in the shape of the shells
Darwin‘s Observations
8. Natural Selection:
In a population certain physical traits differ: Some
Finches have bigger, some have smaller beaks. The
Organisms that have whatever trait is better to
survive in the environment that they live in,
reproduce more and so that trait is carried on in the
population and from generation to generation it
becomes very popular
Variation:
Is the idea, that although there is the same genetic
information in a species, some physical traits always
differ
Evolution
9. Evolution:
By thinking about his observation on the Galapagos islands
and his theory of natural selection, Darwin formulated the
concept/theory of Evolution: Although we/ any other
species might have had one same ancestor from a long time
ago, characteristics change over time, succeding from
generation to generation- the process of Evolution.
Lyell Theory:
By geological processes, such as earthquakes and
the movement of continental plates the earth
changes and evolves over time
-> the earth evolves the same way animals do !
Evolution
10. Although monitored and conserved, for example by the
WWF (https://worldwildlife.org/places/the-galapagos)
the Galapagos island are continously endangered
That is not mostly due to Environmental Threats, but
Human Impact:
Poaching
Illegal Fishing
Increased Tourism
Improper Waste Management
Newly intoduced Species
Threats
11. Now you know about
the Galapagos Islands!
Aren‘t they an amazingly beautiful
and unique place? They were even
the inspiration for the Discovery of a
great biological theory- Evolution!
You just have to love them ! And
remember: Save Galapagos !!
12. Bibliography
Works Cited
Carr, Steve M. "Adaptation in Darwins Finches." Memorial University. N.p., 2004.
Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
"Darwinism Refuted.com." Darwinism Refuted.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
"Environmental Threats to the Galapagos Islands." PBS: Public Broadcasting
Service. GTE Corporation, 2000. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
"Galapagos Islands .com - Galapagos History - Charles Darwin in the Galapagos."
Galapagos Islands Tours, Galapagos Cruises, Ecuador and Peru Tours. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
"Galápagos Islands." UNESCO World Heritage Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
K, T. "Survival Adaptations Galapagos Tortoise, T.K., 2012." Google Sites, 2012.
Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
