Galápagos Essay

Galápagos Essay
Charles Darwin came up with his theory of evolution through natural selection in the 1800's, after
his journey to the Galápagos Islands. The Galápagos Archipelagos are a group of sixteen volcanic
islands on the equator, lying in the Pacific Ocean 600 miles off Ecuador. By studying the history of
Galápagos, humanity can gain an appreciation for the unique archipelagos and reduce the potential
for habitual extinction. Galápagos is famous for its unique flora and fauna such as, cacti, tortoises,
finches, and penguins. These isolated islands are unique because you can see the evolution in the
species just by visiting the neighboring island. The Galápagos Islands received their name after the
huge tortoises found exclusively living on the islands. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Born in England in 1809, naturalist Darwin frequently searched for answers to life and its mysteries.
During his five–week visit Darwin collected several specimens of rocks, plants, animals, and
insects. While there he noticed the differences in the mockingbirds, tortoises, and other birds, but
didn't immediately realize the significance. Upon Darwin's departure a native mentioned he could
determine which island a tortoise shell originated. It did not occur for Darwin to consider all of the
islands had anything but the same species. Back in England, Darwin realized he didn't correctly
collect all of the details of the Galapagos animals. He didn't tag his specimens by which island they
came, and discovered this significance later. Thinking they were other species of birds, Darwin
didn't realize that the birds he noticed were all finches, but all with different beaks to suit their
unique ways of acquiring food. In his Journal in 1839 Darwin wrote, "The natural history of these
islands is eminently curious, and well deserve attention. Here, both in space and time, we seem to be
brought somewhat near to that great fact–that mystery of mysteries–the first appearance of new
beings on this earth." Studying his specimens over several years was the inspiration for Darwin to
make theories on evolution, and published the Origin of
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The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands The Galapagos Islands are a group of 16 islands located in the Pacific Ocean
that straddle the equator about 525 miles west of the South American Coastline. The islands were
formed by underwater volcanoes millions of years ago and belong to Ecuador. The Galapagos are
well known for their vast diversity in plant and animal populations. Some of the plant and animal
life found on the islands cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The Galapagos Islands are
considered to be the last oceanic archipelago in the world that retains over 95% of its original
biodiversity (Watkins and Cruz, 2007). These unique islands have had many influences on science
and human philosophy through the many studies conducted by Charles ... Show more content on
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One way humans intervene is by hiring hunters to come in and kill some of the goat population. The
goats are eating much of the vegetation on the islands. The endangered tortoises on the islands need
this vegetation for survival. Another example of the intervention is with the Guava and Quanine
trees. These trees are abundant and have large canopies that produce too much shade. The shade
blocks the sunlight from reaching the flora beneath the trees causing the low–lying plants to die out.
The Ecuadorian government hires people to come in and harvest the trees to allow more sunlight to
reach the plants. Human intrusions are the largest threat to the ecosystem on the Galapagos Islands.
This is due to the increase in tourism over the past 16 years. Tourism has grown at a rate of 14% per
year (Watkins and Cruz, 2007). The number of hotels on the islands has increased from 33 to 65 and
the number of bars and restaurants has increased from 880 to 1,668 (Watkins and Cruz, 2007). This
is definitely an indicator of how much tourism has grown on the islands. This causes massive
problems in the ecosystem. The only way to these tourists can get to the islands is by boat. The boats
that bring the people to the islands are bringing more pollution and waste. The tourists on these
boats are bringing plants and animals with them that carry germs, disease, and insects that threaten
the native populations on the islands. These problems with

Geospiza Filiginosa Hypothesis
On his visit to Galapagos Island, Charles Darwin discovered several species of birds. Upon his
arrival in England, he discovered that the birds were actually the same species. Although they
possessed certain similar characteristics the birds each had unique morphological qualities that made
them differ from one another. This inspired his famous evolution theory, which is now a biological
fact due to the enormous evidence supporting the theory.
Famous scientists, like Rosemary Grant and her husband, made so many important discoveries on
their work on the finches in Galapagos, which explained how selection can be an agent of
evolutionary changes (Grant & Grant 2006). The type of species that are being investigated is the
Geospiza Fuliginosa (small ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Each researcher will need a salary of $65,000 for their extensive 11 month research done on the
islands. Flying round trip from Cincinnati to the closest airport to the islands (in Ecuador) costs
about $900 per ticket, with a one way boat ride costing $150 each. Housing and food is a necessity
for the researchers, so equipment to hunt would be more cost effective than providing large amounts
of food to go with them. For nearly $2000 dollars, fishing poles and crossbows or other equipment
to help hunt or grow food can be provided. Each researcher will be provided with an $800 Large
Canvas tent and some equipment for personal needs and cooking for about $500 each. A budget
table, table 4, provides information on expenses on an individual person and for the group of four
people. Research costs will be relatively low as the equipment needed for that is relatively cheap.
For the research, nets to catch the birds will be needed, as well as tags to be able to identify each
bird

Galápagos Islands Essay
Section #1 – Introduction:
The Galápagos Islands are located in South America and they display what true natural beauty really
is. These islands are one of the most popular nature exhibits in the world. The purpose of this paper
is to inform you about these miraculous Islands, focusing on the physical features, history and its
unique nature and wildlife.
Section #2 – Physical Features:
Several hundred miles west of Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands lift their lava ridges and peaks out of
the Pacific Ocean. The islands have an area of 3,093 square miles, a population 25,000 people and
the average temperatures range from 69 to 84 degrees fahrenheit. The tropical heat is cooled by the
humid southeast trade winds and by the Humboldt and Peru currents. ... Show more content on
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The Galápagos Islands are now a national park and wildlife sanctuary. Visitors are allowed only by
official permission.
Section #4 – Nature/Wildlife:
When Charles Darwin, the first of several scientists to visit the Galápagos, came in 1835 he found
that half the birds and plants were different from species in other parts of the world. About a third of
the shore fish and nearly all the reptiles differed from most species. These variations helped to
suggest to Darwin the theory of evolution set forth in his Origin of Species.
Giant land iguanas, 3 feet or more in length, bask under cactus. Sea iguanas swarm the coastal rocks
which are frequented by herds of sea lions and fur seals. Among the birds are species of pelican,
penguin, flightless cormorant, heron, dove, finch, mockingbird, hawk, and albatross. The giant
tortoises weigh up to 600 pounds and are strong enough to carry a man. Early in the 20th century
enormous numbers of tortoises were slaughtered for oil. On some of the larger islands roam wild
dogs, cats, goats, burros, and even some cattle which are descendants of animals abandoned by
passing

Galapagos Conservancy
So, how did professionals in this field solve this issue? Among all introduced animals, goats were
particularly devastating to island ecosystems, so the Galapagos Conservancy initiated a project
called Project Isabela was created in 1997 and finally completed in 2006. At the start of Project
Isabela, goats were still found on Pinta, Santiago, the 5 islands with human habitation, and a small
islet off the west coast of Isabela (Galapagos Conservancy Blog). But after 6 years of preparation,
eradication, and monitoring, a professional training of a team of highly skilled park wardens from
Galapagos successfully eradicated the goat population.
Unfortunately, eradicating this invasive species was not cheap. In order to kill approximately
250,000

The Island Of The Galapagos Archipeggio
Isabela Island, the largest island of the Galápagos archipeggio, seemed to rise straight out of the
water. The sedimentary rock cliffs were rusty brown, but were covered with life. Red and black
crabs rested on the surface, while blue–footed boobies gracefully dived into the water to catch
sardines. Baby nazca boobies peered out of their nests to see a small inflatable boat, known as a
panga, bobbing in the water. Our guide, Christina, enthusiastically shared her knowledge of these
animals to my family. This wildlife–viewing boat ride was our plan for the afternoon. But things
changed. As things always change.
The sun was starting to set in the west, over the Bolivar Channel. The sea seemed calm, but a bird
would occasionally skim the surface. My family and I watched the horizon intently. The Bolivar
Channel was known for having the best marine wildlife viewings in the Galápagos. In the far
distance, water was displaced. Mist flew in the air, forming the shape of a miniature fountain. Could
it be a whale spout? Or was it just my imagination? Quietly, I told my sister Raley. However, it was
not quiet enough. Christina heard and immediately started to scour the area with her binoculars.
What if there was no marine life in the area? I was convinced I would die of embarrassment.
Suddenly, Christina dropped her binoculars.
"I see it! It's a whale spout!"
Immediately, our panga raced off – full speed – to the location of the whale spout. However, as we
inched closer to our

Galapagos Islands Drought
In 1976 there was a drought that caused many finches to die off in the Galapagos islands. Two
scientists, Rosemary and Peter Grant, studied the island for 6 months each year for 5 years. They
recorded, that during the dry season of 1976, there was not even a centimeter of rainfall. On
average, rainfall during the dry season is about 12 centimeters. This drought continued through both
seasons of 1977. During the wet season there was 25 centimeters of rainfall and 0 centimeters of
rainfall during the dry season. The average rainfall during wet seasons at the Galapagos islands is
179 centimeters. Taken this information you can see how little rainfall can have a large effect on the
ecosystem. The water deprived plants had a harder time producing ... Show more content on
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Some finches inherited longer beaks, this allowed them to open more seeds and access more food.
Inheriting the longer beaks is not proven, but any animal inherited traits just like humans. So
gathering this information we can conclude that they inherit their long beaks. Having a long beak
was crucial in order for the finches to survive through the drought. Two finches, for example, that
survived the drought, had bigger beak sizes. Gf69 had a beak length of 13.01 millimeters and
weighed 13.41 grams. Another finch that survived the drought had a beak length of 10.97 and
weighed about 12 grams. Yet a finch that didn't survive had a beak length of 9.92 millimeters. All 10
finches that survived through the drought had longer beaks that averaged to 11.939 millimeters. This
is a large beak size compared to a bird that did not survive with a beak length of 7.21 millimeters. A
bigger beak length allows a finch to pry open harder seeds unlike the finches with smaller beaks.
Some field notes were taken from the Grants, and they told us that a finch was spotted struggling to
open a seed. For this reason finches with longer beaks were able to get food more easily than finches
with smaller beaks. In conclusion, some finches had a longer lifespan than other for the reason that
they had longer beaks. On top of that they were able to survive the

Geology of the Galapagos Islands Essay
INTRODUCTION In 1835 Charles Darwin, aboard the vessel HMS Beagle, first set foot on the
Islands of the Galapagos Archipeligo setting off on what would become the inspiration for the most
important innovation in biological sciences either before or since. That visit solidified for Darwin
his notion of the evolution of life on Earth, and helped trigger his breakthrough regarding Natural
Selection, ultimately culminating in his groundbreaking masterpiece On the Origin of Species by
Means of Natural Selection. And although Darwin would never return to these Islands in his
lifetime, the Galapagos still hold today a vast importance–both symbolic and scientific–to
evolutionary biologists everywhere, and have undergone intense scrutiny and ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
– Charles Darwin, Volcanic Islands, Chapter V. 1844 With these words Darwin begins his apt
description of the Galapagos Archipeligo, as based upon his own observations, which is as succinct
a description one will find. As Darwin notes, the Galapagos Islands are located roughly on the
Equator about 600 miles off the western coast of Ecuador, numbering thirteen to fifteen islands in all
and situated on the Nazca Oceanic Plate. The islands represent the portion of submarine volcanoes,
specifically shield volcanoes, that have broken the surface of the Pacific Ocean, to form highly
basaltic land forms. The islands were first discovered by Europeans, quite by accident in fact, in
1535 by Fra Tomas de Barlanga, the Bishop of Panama when his ship went off course while
travaling to Peru. This is also the first written description of the islands as de Barlanga writes,
"dross, worthless, because it has not the power of raising a little grass, but only some thistles."
(White, 1997) Hardly a scientific analysis, however it is indeed telling of the terrain that would be
produced by the volcanic activity that gave rise to the land. The basaltic terrain would leave little
roothold for most plants and trees. The next 300 hundreds years are largely uneventful–certainly so
from a geologic standpoint– with the islands serving as a base and haven for pirates beginning in the
late 16th century. Whalers followed the

August In The Galapagos Research Paper
August in the Galapagos
August in the Galapagos sees the dry, or garúa season in full swing. The nutrient rich waters of the
Humboldt Current are a feeding ground for schools of small fish, which in turn bring dolphins,
sharks, rays, and whale sharks from near and far.
Above the sea, migrating and native sea birds thrive, diving from the sky into shallow waters for
fish. Sea lions, marine iguanas, and turtles also make an appearance, thriving with the abundance of
food.
Keep reading for some of the marine creatures you can see when snorkeling and diving during your
Galapagos holiday at the camp.
Whale Sharks
From May through October, the plankton–rich waters of the islands make the archipelago a yearly
stop for pregnant whale sharks. The fish ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They feed in shallow waters, often joining sea lions, dolphins, and hammerhead sharks under the sea
in search of fish. The endemic species only dives to shallow depths, and spends short periods of
time in the sea each day. While the penguin's numbers are low due to El Niño years, the population
spreads around the islands while the food supply is abundant.
Hammerhead Sharks
Often seen off the shores of Seymour Island and in the waters surrounding Kicker Rock near San
Cristobal, Hammerhead sharks are often spotted in groups during a dive safari holiday from the
camp. Black–tipped sharks, white–tipped reef sharks, and Galapagos sharks also live in the waters,
feeding on small fish during the dry season.
Orcas
Killer whales are sometimes spotted while crossing the expanses of open sea between islands. They
are hunters, and follow dolphin pods in search of food. In the Galapagos, they have been seen
hunting sea lions, penguins, turtles, dolphins, and other whales.
Humpback Whales
Humpback whales migrate to the Galapagos during the dry season to mate and feed, traveling from
Antarctica and making residence in the plankton and krill rich waters around the

Life and Business in the Galapagos Islands
Business in the Galapagos Islands takes place mainly during lunch hour, as many people are out at
midday eating. Restaurants may even be closed at night in rural areas. This is because some serve
local food or cater for tourists in larger cities. In more recent decades, fast food restaurants common
in America have been drifting over to Ecuador, such as McDonalds. There is also a Chinese
community that originated back in the 19th century here. This familiarizes the locals with dishes like
fried rich with chicken, which goes by the name chaulafan de pollo. When touring, one may find a
variety of fritters and fried dough's like buhuelos, and other pastries, as street foods are a popular
choice. Ecuadorians in the higher valleys of the Andes reply on potatoes as staples in their diets. To
spices these potatoes, and other dishes, they use a very hot Andean chili. A sauce seasoned with aji,
also containing milk or water is also very common. Varieties on banana are numerous in this
country. This allows bananas to be used in many recipes. Other common ingredients include
peanuts, peppers, and almonds. A lot of raw fish is also eaten, as well as tamales, soups, and filled
pies When touring the islands, one might notice that the food is as unique and varied as the people
inhabiting the lands. The culinary traditions are influenced by both the Inea and Spanish conquers of
the territory. As the landscapes change, the dishes also change. Many popular lunches include;
Ceviche, which is

Galapagos Research Paper
Tourist and Resident Interaction in the Galapagos Islands
In the last fifteen years, the number of immigrants in the Galapagos has increased the human
population on the archipelago by over 50 percent. Human interaction with this "pristine paradise"
has created and exacerbated a lot of environmental, social and political issues. Tourism and
inhabitation of the islands have impacted the landscape of the Galapagos in an alarming manner.
The once mystical island from which Darwin got his inspiration for The Origin of Species has
become a site of environmental concern. Most, if not all, of the issues facing the Galapagos today,
are a consequence of human interaction with the ecosystem. In 2007 Galapagos was declared an
endangered World Heritage site due to this clash between human and nature.
In the era of Darwin, there were about 200 to 300 residents in the Galapagos Archipelago. In the
1990s, an ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Female turtles are often turned around once arrived on shore due to the cruise lights and return to the
sea before laying their eggs. These boats also cause physical damage to the rare sea turtle through
accidental collisions. Tourism boats dump sewage and waste into the nearby waters contaminating
and making it almost impossible to enjoy the pristine ocean waters that once surrounded the
Galapagos Islands.
As tourism expands, the type of tourist changes as well. Tourists expect luxurious conditions, taxis,
and all the conveniences available to them in their homeland. Puerto Ayora has at least 400 taxis.
That's an astonishingly high carbon footprint for a place that depends so much on its flora and fauna
for all sectors of the economy. In the words of Carol Ann Bassett, "Puerto Ayora has become a
'disneylandia.'" The over commercialization of the island ecosystem has converted a natural paradise
to an over populated, under appreciated tourist hot

Galapagos El Niño Events
The Galapagos and El Niño Events: A Complicated Relationship The Galapagos Islands are an
incredible discovery, a scientific Eden of the Earth, made famous for being the place where
anthropologist Charles Darwin had his "eureka moment." The archipelago is a geographic anomaly
and a flagship for scientific discovery and conservation. In such an extraordinary environment, there
are bound to be unique species, not only do penguins exist in the equatorial environment, but
iguanas in the Galapagos have evolved to live in marine conditions. The islands are known for their
unique isolation and for the high percentage of endemic flora and fauna species. However, the
extensive isolation from continental landmass yields a challenging rhythm of life for ... Show more
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There is no doubt that these events will continue to disrupt ecological patterns of the Galapagos in
the future, however the best understanding of these incredibly flexible and adaptable islands is that
life in the archipelago continues to evolve to survive throughout these unusual conditions. Hopefully
future El Niño events will create new varieties within species, so that rare Galapagos–endemic
species do not go extinct, but rather they adapt to survive throughout the changes. This is a
complicated theory because in order for the species to evolve to suit the conditions of El Niño
events, they must also evolve for the La Niña events, which creates challenges. It may be possible to
evolve so that a species can survive throughout the entire El Niño/ La Niña cycle, however this
would most likely be in the far future. As for now, life in the Galapagos will continue to be disrupted
by El Niño events in the future until change occurs or some force interferes with the

The Extinction Of The Tortoise In Galapagos
A recent article has been posted of a 100 year old tortoise named Diego who is responsible for
saving its species. The tortoises in Galapagos were almost in near extinction and this because the
very few males that are on the island did not seem an interest to the females, which slowed down the
population rate. The tortoise lives in a breeding center in Santa Cruz but is from a species called
Chelnoidis Hoodensis, which is a species that that is only found in Espanola. Knowing the history of
this Diego and seeing how he has produced many offspring before they decided to take him to
Galapagos and he has more than succeeded in helping repopulate. A tortoise specialist named Tapia
say's "He's contributed enormously to repopulating the island" and

The Galapagos Of Fossil Fuels On Galapagos
Our need for energy is constantly growing; to fill this need we have turned to inexpensive, copious,
and inefficient sources of energy such as coal and oil. Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are
beginning to use renewable energy sources in an effort to protect the Galapagos from the dangers of
fossil fuels. Ecuador's and the Galapagos use of wind, solar, and biofuels in the place of fossil fuel
help reduce the use of coal and oil energy in boats, cars, and generators. Ecuador and the Galapagos
plans have several plans for more renewable energy sources that will make the Galapagos a
completely sustainable archipelago in the near future. The government of Ecuador has several
expectations for what their projects will accomplish.
The Ecuadorian Government's national policy of 'Zero fossil fuels on Galapagos' is a policy that
aims to convert all of the Galapagos energy to renewable energy by 2020. This policy was the
response of the Ecuadorian Government to an incident that happened in 2001, where a tanker spilled
heavy fuel oil near the islands. This resulted in the death of a large number of marine iguanas. The
'Zero fossil fuels on Galapagos' policy revolves around the use of wind, solar, and biofuels to make
the Galapagos free of fossil fuels. With the induction of this policy there have come many projects
to use more renewable energy sources and be more efficient with energy consumption. With
Ecuador lacking the technology and funds to realize this policy, energy companies

Human Abuse In The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos islands are home to many endemic species such as the various species of tortoise
often associated with them. What they are known less for is the large quantity of invasive species
that also now inhabit the island thanks to man coming to and from the island with only himself in
mind. Since this issue has been noticed, transport to and from the islands has become quite regulated
and limited in the hopes of slowing this disaster in the works. This is seeming to work but it isn't
unlikely that all threats will be eradicated since "humans will inevitably inhabit the island" (Santoso,
2014). This human presence will always be a problem but some have chosen to work towards
retribution. With over 1,000 invasive species now inhabiting ... Show more content on
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The goat's appetite is also the main problem, they are literally eating everything on the islands,
leaving them barren. Action has already been taken on a rather extreme level. Project Isabela was
launched in 1997 with the goal of exterminating every feral goat with a "clean shot to the head or
the heart" (Hirsch, 2013). Highly skilled game wardens were trained and implemented with
helicopters and GIS mapping to employ aerial hunting and scanning to hunt all goats to extinction
on the islands. The goats quickly associated the helicopters with death and began hiding from them.
Judas goats were then introduced. A Judas goat is a female goat injected with hormones designed to
keep her in heat draw out males in hiding (Galapagos Conservancy, 2008). Increases in vegetation
are already being seen on the islands of project Isabela. The task at hand is so huge that 18 years
later goats are still being hunted. It has been found, however, that local fishermen have been known
to release more goats onto the islands to retaliate against the government for fishing regulations that
they don't agree with. This is clearly an issue Santoso foresaw with her disdain for human presence
on the

Paternity In Galapagos Hawks
Researchers acknowledge Galapagos hawks actually have a cooperative breeding system, with the
dominant breeding male and one or more nonbreeding helpers. DNA is to figure out that Galapagos
Hawk males within social groups tended to be related and whether multiple paternity occurred
within groups both within and between two consecutive breeding seasons.Checking the productive
success was randomly distributed among male groups. Competition expected on basis of chances or
whether the process in sperm competition or behavioral might have paternity in favor of some
males. This experiment is going to be handled by extracting DNA and later check the Galapagos
Hawk hybridization, meaning the process of an animal breeding with an individual of another
species. Finally autoradiographs, that shows a photograph produced by radiation from radioactive
material in the object and revealing the distribution in the Hawk. ... Show more content on
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As the result, the DNA was taken from the blood samples of the Galapagos Hawk out of three
fledgling possibilities to be related to the biological parent is one. Shows other chicks belong to a
group in which two adults males couldn't find the difference genetically. DNA fingerprinting
analysis of paternity in Galapagos Hawks revealed extensive mix paternity both brood and across
brood produced by the same group during the years. Results that involving one male who father a
single young and another that not even his own, by being part of a two–mile group. Galapagos
Hawks proves cooperative polyandry, larger samples over multiple years needed to determine
whether paternity sharing is true relates to male reproduction success exist. No evidence proof
shows dominance interaction in groups of the most common size, such as variation in male
reproduction successful

What Are The Advantages Of Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the ideal way to view some of the amazing marine life that surrounds the Galapagos
Islands. It can be learned in a few hours and even children can do it. It opens up a wonderland of
lifeforms that you would completely miss if you stay on land.
Snorkeling in the Water around the Galapagos May Be the Highlight of Your Trip
In Their Natural Setting
Snorkeling is one way to see the marine life in its natural setting. Another way is scuba diving. The
main advantage of snorkeling is the freedom from complicated gear and extended lessons. Unless
you are traveling with a group that has packed for diving, snorkeling is your best option. All you
need is a mask, snorkel and fins. You may want a wetsuit if you are diving on the western islands
where the water is cooler. Otherwise, it is not essential. There is special equipment for children to
help them stay in the right position.
If you visit the Galapagos on an expedition cruise, you will be provided with the necessary
snorkeling equipment and receive lessons. Your professional naturalist guide will help you see and
recognize the varied marine life that you will encounter.
Some of the Marine Animals You May See
Sea turtles – sea turtles are large, cumbersome creatures until they are in the water. These majestic
animals swim with ease and mostly ignore the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They have adapted over the millennia to feed on sea plants because the vegetation on land became
scarce. They look for algae and seaweed and are great swimmers. Their long, flat tail propels them
through the water very fast. You will also see them resting on the shore rocks and sometimes they
sneeze to expel the salt that accumulates in their nostrils. It is this puff of powdered salt that made
the first explorers think the iguanas were dragons. A good place to find marine iguanas and sea
turtles grazing is the underwater pasture in Tagus Cove, Isabela

Sustainable Development And Wyss's Turmoil In The Galapagos
After reading the excerpt from Honey's Ecotourism and Sustainable Development and Wyss's
Turmoil in Paradise Galapagos fishermen revolt against strict quota on lobster, it has become very
clear to me that the Galapagos are a fragile country that is being treated in the harshest ways. The
Galapagos are most notoriously known for the inspiration of Darwin's theory of evolution because
of its unique diversity in same species, as well as being the home for several other rare species. This
fame, understandably, spiked the interest in the islands, thus increasing the tourism numbers with a
growth in interest from a variety of scientists and tourists.
Aside from the increased tourism numbers, the other issue the islands were facing are the violent ...
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The Smart Voyager, a certification program in the Galapagos, sought to reduce the damage tour
boats had on the environment without doing away with them completely. The International Safety
Management certification is another one that was required by all tourism companies to ensure the
utmost safety for prospective tourists. The islands that receive the most tourism suffer from
vegetation loss, erosion, and animal behavioral changes. The Galapagos National Park Service will
sometimes shut down exploration of these sites in order to help those places recover a little from the
damage. This, to me, only seems like a temporary fix for these places; the tourism is most likely
only going to grow and the islands are going to need to find a way to keep up with it. Especially
with the introduction of cruise ships, the chances of invasive species being introduced onto the
islands is extremely high because of the different types of bacteria, fungi, and various other plant
and animal species that can harbor on the boats. The government put in various regulations to help
prevent these such as a complete inspection of the boat from bow to stern, but that is not always a
trusting fix, as some inspectors have the chance to miss things. Invasive species are the most
detrimental factor to biodiversity and habitat loss; feral goats are

History Of The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands is an archipelago of roughly 19 islands and several smaller islets, covering
620 miles off the Ecuadorian coast in the Pacific Ocean. Both the land and sea are protected, making
the island a World Heritage site. The islands are recognized for its unique wildlife, especially
because of the lack of predators. Visitors can interact with the friendly wildlife such as playful sea
lions and gigantic sea tortoises, up close and personal. The incredible animal species served as the
inspiration for Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution after his visit to the islands in 1835. Each of
these actively volcanic isolated isles boasts its own set of unique species, but share similar
environment, and climate. It is one of the most outstanding marine ecosystems in the world, situated
at the confluence of three ocean currents.
Prior to Spanish discovery of the islands in 1535, there is little evidence to support any permanent
settlement. Spaniard Fray Tomas de Berlanga's vessel drifted off course on a trip to Peru and
reached the islands. The English followed in 1593, and Irish sailor Patrick Watkins is believed to be
the first to establish a permanent settlement on Floreana, when he was stranded between 1807 and
1809. In 1959, the Galapagos was designated a national park, and in the ... Show more content on
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Tropical dwelling penguins, fur sea lions, giant tortoises, flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, and
a variety of subspecies of mocking birds and Darwin's finches, create a spectacular view of diversity
in the animal life of the islands. There are approximately 9,000 endemic species living on Galapagos
Islands and in surrounding waters. Endemic trees such as the giant daisy trees Scalesia, and large
cacti also adds to the biodiversity of the region. Introduced animals and plants are now the biggest
threats to these endemic

Charles Darwin and Galapagos
Charles Darwin arrived at the Galapagos in 1835 ready to record everything he saw. Herman
Melville got there in 1841 with different goals. They were both young men when they took this
journey to raid the islands: Darwin raided in the name of science and Melville for food (Howarth,
99). After their respective journeys, Darwin and Melville wrote two different books describing the
same islands. The respective books made the headlines after they were written. This paper will
compare Charles Darwin's The Voyage of The Beagle and Herman Miller's The Encantadas in an
attempt to show how their writing of the biological factors in the Galapagos was skewed by the time
they wrote, their mood when writing and their motive to be on the island.
Darwin was on the Beagle to gather specimens and spy on the Spanish colonial defenses. To keep a
detailed record everything he saw, Darwin sent immediate reports in letters during the trip. When he
got back to England, Darwin started diligently producing volumes of the zoological and geological
phenomena he found in during the voyage (Howarth, 101). One of the species he records is the
finch. He noticed how the different finch species had evolved to meet the nutrition available in their
habitat. His detailed letters gave him access to the information he needed to describe the organisms
he had seen when he began to write his book. He was on the island to collect specimen and so his
writing explained in great detail the specimens he had found and

The Negative Effects Of Invasive Species In The Galaapagos...
The Galapagos Islands is home to some of the world's most spectacular creatures located in the
Pacific Ocean. Isolated and untouched for thousands of years, the Galapagos Islands slowly
transformed from barren, volcanic islands to rich, biodiverse lands of scientific research and
exploration. The initial acquisition of species to the Galapagos archipelago was a slow dispersal
process of species arriving to the islands by means of sea, air, and bird carriers (Jackson). However,
with the human discovery of the islands in 1535, the rate of species colonization increased due to
human introduction of species such as rodents and insects ("Invasive Species"). In the past century,
the number of alien species introduced to the islands by humans/human activity dramatically
increased and a total of 1,579 alien species has been recorded, with 1,476 of those species becoming
established (Toral–Granda et al. 1).
Alien species are deemed invasive or noninvasive depending on their cultural value as social and
economic benefits or detriments (Kopelson 10). According to the European Environment Agency,
invasive species are defined as having "negative [and devastating] effects on its surroundings, for
example by outcompeting or predating on native species" ("Invasive Alien Species"). The negative
impacts of invasive species is particularly strong on island systems. In the Galapagos Islands, habitat
and biodiversity loss is considerable due to the isolation of the islands that results in an

Galapagos Islands Research Paper
Discovered in 1535, the Galapagos Islands have been a place of mystery and wonder for centuries.
The Galapagos Islands are a group of volcanic islands located approximately 1000 kilometers west
of the South American coast on the equator. Thirteen main islands make up the island chain, along
with 6 smaller islands and numerous other islets, small rocks, and pinnacles, with a total land
surface area of approximately 8,000 square kilometers. The islands are known for their unique
species of countless different animals, found nowhere else in the world, and for the discoveries
made by Darwin at this island chain. The Galapagos Islands are unique in many aspects, including
the hot spot underneath, the plate tectonics, the two different volcano types ... Show more content on
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These crater like volcanoes are quite an uncommon occurrence, although they are not unique to just
the Galapagos. However, the unusual part of these calderas is their size, especially compared to their
relation to the size of the volcano. Calderas form after a collapse of a magma chamber located under
the surface. The magma in these chambers give support to the volcano, but after the magma
withdraws, the surrounding rock becomes unsupported and cannot bear the weight above them, and
therefore they collapse. These calderas do not form in just one collapse; they slowly grow after
many collapses. This was proven after a partial collapse of the caldera on Fernandina in 1968, as
part of the crater dropped nearly 200 meters. Several other smaller collapses have occurred on
Fernandina as well as other islands since the collapse in 1968. These calderas can also be refilled
with magma, partially or all the way, and then reform. An example of this is Isla Marchena, located
in the northeast, which has nearly been filled all the way with lava. If these calderas drop below sea
level and part of the rim breaks, the caldera can form a bay just as Genovesa's caldera

Informative Speech Galapagos Islands Outline Essay
Galapagos Islands
Purpose: To inform my classmates about the Galapagos Islands.
Thesis: The Galapagos Islands are located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, a beautiful and exotic place
for your next vacation.
Organizational Pattern: Topical I. Introduction A. Attention Getter: Have you guys heard about giant
tortoises? They live in the Galapagos Islands, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. B.
Relevance: Most college students want to go on vacation once they graduate from college and
usually travel within the U.S. Why not travel to an exotic place outside the country?[VISUAL AID]
C. Credibility: I lived in Ecuador the country the islands belong to and saw a lot of documentaries
about the islands and some of my ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
From June to November the water and air temperature are colder because of the Humboldt Current,
this is nutrient water that attracts fish and sea birds. The sky is filled with clouds, wind is stronger
and seas a bit rougher.[VISUAL AID] 5. 97% of the land is designated as National Parks. f. Visits
can be made only to specific visitor sites with certified naturalist guides. g. The Galapagos National
Park monitors visitors and ecological conditions. h. Different sites are known for specific scenery,
vegetation and wildlife.
Transition: I hope you are all excited about this place by now! B. Planning a trip 6. It's possible to
get to the islands by boat, but mostly all visitors travel by air for convenience. i. Flights depart from
the main cities of Ecuador which are Quito and Guayaquil. j. Airlines like TAME and AeroGal offer
flights to the islands. The average flight it's about $425 for a roundtrip. k. There are two main
airports in the islands, in Baltra and San Cristobal. l. Upon arrival a fee has to be paid for the park,
$100 for adults and $50 for children.[VISUAL AID]
7. Now what items should you bring with you.[VISUAL AID] m. Let's start off with clothing, bring
light clothes

Evoloution of Polar Bears (Lamarck vs Darwin) Essay
The Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encircling the
Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and land masses. Although it is closely related to the Brown Bear,
it has evolved to occupy a narrower ecological forte, with many body characteristics adapted for
cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which
make up most of its diet. Though there are many theories surrounding evolution, the two stand
outstanding hypotheses applying to the modification from Brown Bear to Polar Bear are Lamarck's
theory of Use and Disuse, and Darwin's theory of Natural Selection. The intention of this paper is to
compare these thesis and determine the most appropriate in ... Show more content on
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In 1977 a drought reduced the number of small seeds available for the birds, forcing them to rely on
larger seeds and nuts, which were difficult for birds with smaller beaks to open. The number of birds
unable to eat reduced as they died and gave way to harder beaked finches. Within a couple of
generations they had evolved larger beaks. In 2003 another drought struck the Galapagos and as
there were many large beaked finches, the food source of nuts dwindled, making the ability to eat
smaller seeds an asset. The numbers of larger beaked birds dwindled as food became scarce, leaving
the smaller birds to survive and reproduce. Darwin's theory was not well received when first written
in On the Origin of Species, though many scientists today use it as a basis for research in evolution.
Both theories suggest that a species changes over time to be able to better adapt to an environment.
Though Lamarck thought that the entire population of that species would evolve as one, i.e. all
offspring changes together with same adaptation. Darwin concluded that only the specimen with the
mutation or an altered version of a feature to evolve a species as they would be able to adapt and
survive easier than those without it, thus causing the "unevolved" to die off while the "evolved"
lived. Over many many generations the species keeps evolving until it has perfected the new trait,
also becoming a new

Galapagos Penguin Decline
The Galapagos Penguin (scientifically known as Spheniscus Mendiculus), is one of the smallest
types of penguin on the planet and is the easiest to distinguish as it lives the furthest north than any
other penguin species. It has distinctive white marks on its face, beak and chest as well as a "C"
shaped line that stretches across its upper body. The Galapagos Penguins are native to the Galapagos
islands, they live in colonies and are sedentary meaning that they only venture as far as 3 miles
away. Sadly, they are currently listed as endangered by many sources such as WWF (Worldwide
Fund) with numbers fewer than 2000.
To begin with, if the Galapagos Penguin were to become extinct, it would harm the ecosystem
detrimentally, specifically the food web. In the food web of the Galapagos Islands, the Galapagos
Penguin is the second order consumer as it feeds 0n smaller fish. If it were to become extinct, the
population of the first order consumer (small fish such as mullet and sardines) would dramatically
increase causing the producer to decrease and slowly die out. This will also impact the other first
order consumers as there will be less food to share amongst them slowly triggering their extinction
as well. Overall the extinction of the Galapagos Penguin will completely put the local ecosystem out
of balance. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The poop of the Galapagos Penguin fertilizes the land allowing for the healthy growth of plants
which are consumed by other animals that live on the islands. If the Galapagos Penguin became
extinct, it could possibly cause the extermination of local plants such as the "Ulva" leading to the
extinction of the animals which rely on them. These include the "Parrot Fish", Sally Lightfoot
Crabs, "Five–Spotted Anthia" as well as many more species of land and sea

Christmas Island And Easter Island In Harper Lee's To Kill...
Christmas Island and Easter Island. Two beautiful islands that are 14,378.13 kilometers apart from
each other. Each island is so unique, but yet so different from each other. What makes them similar?
In fact, what makes thousands of other islands similar to these two? Well, it is the living organisms
found there. Millions of different species of insects, plants, and animals are all part of one of the
major similarities the island's share. The Galapagos Islands are one of these islands. This island is
known for where Charles Darwin made his theory of evolution. Darwin studied finches to help make
this theory. Finches play a key role in science. However, they also portray an important role in
Harper Lee's, To Kill a Mockingbird. In this book, birds are essentially the main characters. Several
different birds are mentioned in the story. However, mockingbirds fly above the rest. Finch birds fly
under the radar. It is evident that the characteristics of the bird is represented through character's
actions and personalities. The discovery of finch birds has shown how they adapted to situations and
that they demonstrate racism and segregation through behavioral tendencies . By understanding the
history of finches and the Finch family, similarities become plentiful. The idea that the Finch family
represents finches comes to mind because of all corresponding personality traits and how they
adapted to the environment.
Finches date all the way back to Ancient Egypt. About two billion

Galapagos Vacation Essay
Galapagos cruises when you visit the Galapagos Islands is not to be missed!. It is the highlight for
many peoples trip when visiting not only Ecuador but the entire continent as well. The unique
combination of fearless wildlife and outstanding scenery make for a truly memorable experience
during your Galapagos Cruise. – When is the best time to reserve your Galapagos Cruise? Well to be
honest there isn´t a bad time to visit the islands in a Galapagos Cruise!. Being close to the equator
the islands experience good weather year round. Having said that there are times of year when the
islands are busier. The high season for Galapagos cruises is from July to August and again from
December to January. During these times you can expect higher prices ... Show more content on
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We recommend that in order to avoid any problems with flight delays, cancellations, etc. This is
especially important with Galapagos tours because you may end up missing several days of the tour.
Then you probably haveto wait for the boat to reach a port closer to one of the islands. – What can I
expect when I get there for my Galapagos cruise? The Galapagos Islands are renowned for its
fearless wildlife. The reason for this unique circumstance is that the local wildlife population has
never had contact with humans until recently. Therefore they have never developed a fear for us, for
example while you are doing your Galapagos cruise. This is fantastic for wildlife enthusiasts as you
have the ability to get extremely close to wildlife. That could be both, in the sea if you book a
Galapagos cruise and on land with a Land Tour. – What kind of wildlife can you expect to see on
Galapagos cruises? Here´s just a short list of some of the top animals: humpback whales, whale
sharks, hammerhead sharks, waved albatross. Also blue footed boobies, green sea turtles, giant
tortoises, land and marine iguanas, penguins, frigate birds. And of course sea lions you can find in a
Galapagos Cruise!. Normally peoples favorite animals as they love to play in the ocean and are very

The Evolution Of Galapagos Finches
Crick and Watson discovered that all organisms have a specific chemical code that codes for its own
cells, this was DNA.
ALl organisms have come from one original organism.
Galapagos Finches are evidence for evolution.
Looking at DNA of the finches proves they were all from one ancestor.
When a gene that codes for a protein names BMP4 is expressed it caused the growing of a finch
embryo.
The gene G. conirostris is found in large cactus finch which makes the beak longer.
There are beach mice with lighter coats that blend into the sand better, allowing for them to survive
and reproduce.
The lighter colored fur happened because of a mutation in the genetic code.
We can watch evolution happen in real time.
A finch with a smaller beak does not

My Trip To Galapagos Island Essay
I planned for my trip to the Galapagos Islands for about a year and a half. It was my chance for a
trip outside of the United States and a chance for me to solidify what I wanted for my future. It was
a ten day trip with four days in the capital of Ecuador, Quito, and six days on the islands. I went
with a group of kids from my high school, another high school in Massachusetts, and a group from
Georgia. There were no parents on the trip, only a couple of chaperones from the schools, and very
little access to the internet or the outside world. I was so excited to experience the anomaly that
Charles Darwin had discovered on these islands. I would be forced to interact with people I had
never met before for twenty four hours a day who may or may not have the same interests as me. I
was not friends with anyone on this trip and talking to new people had always terrified me if
someone I knew did not involve me in a conversation. I would be rooming with people who knew
nothing about me and yet they became people that I now cherish memories with. The islands were
exactly how textbooks describe. You could walk across one and see a rainforest, a desert, and a
small rural town. There was Isabela Island first, with it's five peaks and it's coastal town, where ...
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I witnessed how stray dogs were used as guard dogs for the shops and given water and food in
return. I wanted to create a place in the United States that was similar to this. It didn't matter what
breed or how old the dog was, each was given respect and taken care of. This helped me to cement
my feelings on where I wanted to go with my college education. I had known at the time that I
wanted to be an Animal Science Major and I had already chosen to go to the University of
Massachusetts at Amherst with this in mind, but sure what exactly I wanted to focus

Galapagos Evolution
Natural selection can and has been observed in the real world. Examples of change in phenotype
frequency of traits in a population as a result of ecological pressures abound, and can be detailed
from both extant and extinct species.
To begin, one can always look back to the famed case of the peppered moths of industrial–era
London. The light–colored tree bark and lichens of the area were ideal places for the light moths to
hide from predators, while dark moths were rare. Dark moths were easier to spot, and would be
eaten by birds at higher rates than their light counterparts. As the Industrial Revolution took hold
and factories began throwing soot into the surrounding environment, suddenly the darker moths –
who had been more prone to predation ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Anything that improves a rudimentary structure is better than nothing, and as such, those changes
will be selected for over time.
I was glad to see the day's topic on irreducible complexity covered, since it's a concept I've been
aquainted with previously. Having read the book "Finding Darwin's God," I knew of the arguments
about irreducible complexity, and was already introduced to the fossil records and empirical data
sets that refuted this argument.
When Darwin claimed to find the evolution of the eye by natural selection "absurd in the highest
degree," he was conceding that popular opinion would sway in this direction. He was admitting that
his ideas were indeed, hard to swallow and a bit counterintuitive for the audience of the time. But,
he continues on in the text, so was the argument for the Earth being round, and revolving around the
Sun instead of the other way around. His words, taken out of their satirical context, can be read as
incriminating his own theory, but obviously that's not the

Culture of Ecuador and the Glapagos Islands
Culture of Ecuador and the Glapagos Islands
Meghan Lazor
Ecuador is South America's second smallest country and is regarded as one of the most
geographically and ethnically diverse countries on the continent. The Galapagos Islands are part of
Ecuador with a small population of only 10,000 people. Both culture–rich countries are largely
uncharted, making them an exciting and adventurous place to visit. Ecuador is located in the
northwest corner of South America with the Galapagos Islands to the west. The equator runs across
the country which is what gave Ecuador its name. The variation in climate transfers into the lifestyle
of its people causing a large range of cultures throughout the country. The diversity in geography for
both ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Children grow up with a moral responsibility for helping the family. Ecuadorian people tend to
perform actions that benefit the whole as a group rather than focusing on one's self. The culture
focuses on the idea that it is better to grow as a together rather than living separated. Unlike in much
of the west, where the elderly are often placed in care facilities, elderly Ecuadorians will often live
with one of their children. Godparents are also far more important in Ecuador than in other western
countries, and they are expected to provide both financial and psychological support to their
godchildren. Ecuadorians with marital troubles will often ask their godparents for advice
(Weistmantel, 89) Girls tend to be more protected by their parents than boys, due to traditional
social structures. At age 15, girls often have traditional parties called fiesta de quince años.
Quinceañera is the term used for the girl, not the party. The party involves festive food and dance.
This coming of age or debutante party is a tradition found in most Latin American countries,
comparable to the American tradition of sweet sixteen parties. (92)
The streets of the more populated areas are filled with marketplaces containing a variety of local
food straight off the farm along with hand stitched items and herbal remedies. Since fish is one of
the main exports in these two areas, its obvious that seafood one of the most common ingredients in
dishes. The most basic

Galapagos Essay
Kurt Vonnegut's Galapagos was written one million years ahead of the year 1986 AD. In this book,
Vonnegut argues that the ultimate effect of humanity's sociological problems with technology is that
man's intelligence will be the downfall and destruction of the human race. The essential point made
by Vonnegut in this work is that the "great big brains" of humanity drives people to go
further into technology and create new weapons that will lead to the demolition of man kind;
Vonnegut disagreed against virtually every technological development (made by "big brains").
It was the humans' "big brains" that always gave them foolish or reckless ideas that almost always
had negative results. Though it may tell the rest of your body to ... Show more content on
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Vonnegut's cast of unlikely Adams and Eves setting out on an evolutionary journey includes Mary
Hepburn, an American biology teacher and recent widow; Zenji Hiroguchi, a Japanese computer
genius (who doesn't make it to the ship, although his language–translating and quotation–spouting
computer does); his wife, Hisako, carrying radiated genes from the atomic bombs; James Wait, who
has made a fortune marrying elderly women; and Captain Aolph von Kleist, the Captain of the
Bahia de Darwin; also included were six orphaned girls of the Kanka–bono tribe, who became the
founding mothers of the fisher folk after a bacteria determined all other women infertile. This small
group of survivors stranded on the Galapagos Islands are about to become the procreators of a
courageous, heroic, fresh, and totally different human race.
I agree with Kurt Vonnegut's argument that all mankind have these "Big Brains" because the focus
of society today is to have the latest technology to gain "more power". Our "big brains" are no
longer in survival mode as it was with our ancestors. Today, our "big brains" follow what the media
and government deems necessary, be it in commercials, movies, radio, and music that constantly
surrounds us, leaving no room for our own decisions. Our 'big brains" can influence us consciously,
unconsciously, and subconsciously in various decision–making processes

Galapagos Research Paper
The Galapagos Islands is an archipelago and a province of Ecuador. It is mostly known for its
wildlife and the inspiration for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Furthermore, the Galapagos
are considered to be some of the youngest islands in the world with exotic species. Overall, there are
twenty major islands that constitute the Galapagos. The island itself was discovered by the Fray
Tomás de Berlanga, the Bishop of Panama, on March 10, 1535. As time elapsed, there have been
more individuals who have influenced the islands, including tourists. Today, it is one of the most
preserved lands in the world and is labeled by UNESCO as a World Heritage Centre.
As with the label by UNESCO, "Wild Ark", a conservation organization, also hopes to

The Galaapagos Island : The Vacation Of The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are a bucket–list destination, and for good reason: Thanks to the lack of
natural predators, friendly wild such as playful sea lions and giant sea tortoises, travelers can get up
close and personal. This archipelago of about 19 islands is approximately 620 miles off Ecuador's
Pacific Ocean coast. The island serves as a double World Heritage site (since both land and sea are
protected) and it's also where Charles Darwin discovered the Theory of Evolution through biological
development. Although learning doesn't necessarily top the list of most popular things to do while
on vacation, you'll discover that the Galapagos Island has an incredible way of teaching valuable
lessons in biology, history, and geology. In fact, each island has its own unique landscape, ranging
from barren black, volcanic rocks to swaths of white sand beaches melting into gemstone blue
water. Sounds like a fun destination, right? How to Get There In order to get to Galapagos, you must
first get to the mainland of Ecuador by flying into either the capital city of Quito or Guayaquil. Most
of the islands are closer to Guayaquil. If you have the option, fly there to save time. American
Airlines, Continental and Delta all fly to Ecuador from the United State, and most of the flights
there are early morning or evening, so you'll more than likely need an overnight stay somewhere on
the mainland. A lot of tours don't include flights in their package prices, but you should still ask

Forces Of Evolution In Galapagos
Forces of Evolution in Galapagos Throughout the book Galapagos, by Kurt Vonnegut, the author
depicts what he believes the evolution of mankind looks like and how it occurs. The four forces of
evolution which can be found throughout the story are genetic drift, mutations, natural selection and
gene flow. The characters of the story are on a cruise, Bahia de Darwin, heading towards Santa
Rosalia in the Galapagos islands. The inhabitants on this cruise ship are the only people who remain
that are capable of reproducing after an infectious outbreak which caused the rest of the population
to become infertile. This is an example of genetic drift, because the outbreak of the infectious
disease caused a large portion of the population to no longer

Environmental Effects On Marine Iguana
Abstract The El Nino is a major factor of the climatic change and disturbance that has a global
effect. El Nino Impacts the dynamic of ecosystem worldwide, Recent studies predicts that human
generated rises in greenhouse gas levels will have a huge impact on the strength and the frequency
of El Nino warming events. These studies are a main aspect that sparked up many scientists to focus
on the ecological implication of El Nino on different organisms and how El Nino is effecting these
organisms. This was a reason why many studies were done to have a full understanding of what
really El Nino is? Also, few of these studies were focused on how to measure the impact of these
processes on genetic diversity in an ecosystem. there was one study that mainly focused on the
genetic impacts of El Nino on the marine Iguana in the Galapagos islands. Here in this review, the
first portion was to have a full understanding of El Nino and how its actual happen and ... Show
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Then the second part was to know the history, major facts, and a background about Marine Iguanas.
The last and the main part was the impacts of El Nino on the marine Iguanas in the Galapagos
Islands. Marine Iguanas are ectothermic animals that means they depend mainly on outside
temperature to regulate their body temperature. Since Marine Iguana are Ectothermic made it a very
special species to test on how El Nino effect other organisms. Marine Iguanas are dramatically
effected by El Nino due to the severity of the event. The body size of the marine Iguana was a main
factor because the bigger the body the better the survival rate. The body size is effected by the
change of temperature, the higher the temperature the bigger the body size and it can increase
Marine Iguanas Population, and this was another prove that El Nino effects Marine Iguana
genetically. After all is that El Nino events have a big impact of other organisms and it was proven
by the marine Iguanas because their bodies are very sensitive to

The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands, located about 600 miles west of continental Ecuador, contain a rich history
of settlement and exploration and represent a living example of evolution that is still relevant today.
For centuries, this chain of volcanic islands has been used uniquely by various cultures based off
distinct needs. What has remained the same however is the fact that island isolation has forced many
animal and plant species to adapt differently from one another based off their island's environmental
conditions, creating a living model of microevolution over time. Today, these models tend to be the
primary resources used by biology professors when teaching their students evolutionary topics. The
Galapagos Islands are located in the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Currently there are two islands, Isabella and Fernandina, which are still being molded today, and are
thus still highly active volcanoes. The weather in the Galapagos consists of two different seasons.
Both are marked all year by freezing rain due to the Humboldt Current flowing from the south.
Other than this one similarity, the two seasons are completely opposites of one another. Constant
wind and fog as well as regular rain showers that often last entire days characterize the months of
June through November. December through May on the other hand is sunny, windless, and has very
little precipitation. The Galapagos are also affected every three to seven years by a weather cycle
known as El Nino. This climate pattern causes extreme drought, which greatly influences both
terrestrial and marine organisms. It is characterized by a warming of sea temperature, rise in sea
level, and depletion of nutrients. The Galapagos Islands hold a very extensive history marked by
constant changes in reasons for people using them. The first documented discovery of the islands
occurred in 1535 when Fray Tomas de Berlanga of Panama accidentally came cross them while
attempting to sail from Peru back to Panama. There is much controversy however in regards to the
truth behind him being the first to have found the islands. Records show that Incas used these
islands for food and exploration years before Berlanga claimed to have found them. Nevertheless,
the Galapagos remained unsettled

Diversity in the Galapagos Islands
If not for Charles Darwin, shown on the right, the world might not see the Galapagos Islands how
we do today. The islands hold exotic and extraordinary plants and animals. Of these animals, some
are going extinct or have already gone extinct. There are many varieties of natural and introduced
plant life. Charles Darwin was born February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. He sailed on the
HMS Beagle in 1831. He knew he was going to the Galapagos, but he didn't know that he would
discover the theory of evolution. The plants on the Galapagos Island are very tropical and numerous
in varietes. According to the Galapagos Conservancy there are about six hundred and forty native
species of of plants on the Galapagos Islands. There are about eight hundred and twenty five
introducer species. One hundred of the introduced species have become established in the wild.
There are three major zones that the plants live in ; the coastal zone, the arid zone, and the highlands
zone. In the coastal zone mangrove trees are very common and have an important role for bird
breeding sites. The arid zone is very dry and has adapted to the drought conditions. Some of these
plants that have adapted to the drought conditions are the succulent cacti and the leafless shrub,
which only grows leaves in the rainy season. The humid zones are lush and green. There are mosses
and epiphytes growing on trees for support. Some animals like the Galapagos penguin, shown on the
right have adapted to the

Deprivation In The Galapagos Islands
From causing erosion to threatening the survival of endemic flora and fauna, the effects of this
invasion were deeply felt in the Galapagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago of nineteen islands
situated in the Pacific Ocean, about one–thousand kilometers from the Ecuadorian coast. After they
were first introduced in the archipelago, the conditions of the ecosystem unfortunately yielded a
massive increase in reproduction rates for goats―up to 10–35% per year. Specifically, due to two
factors: the lack of the main predators―such as coyotes, dogs, mountain lions, foxes, eagles, and
bobcats―of domestic goats, and the presence of large areas of grasslands and abundant vegetation
on the islands. It was not until the late 1980s that the goat population

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