ENVL 4500- NW Field Experience Prep

Angelique Wanek
Professor Tait
10/30/2017

Galapagos Reflections

Wildlife of the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos islands are 100 meters of the coast of South America and home
to many indigenous and endemic species. The formation of the 13 islands that make up
the Galapagos islands was the result of the cycle of subduction of oceanic plates and
the formation of new crust formed. Once, submerged canyons are now sites of high
demand for ecotourism as well as an area of research. There are several different
species of organisms that are found here such as land birds, turtles, iguanas and more!
Below is some information about different types of organisms that have a presence in
the Galapagos islands:
Land birds:
Arrived to the islands by flying or being brought by powerful wind currents
Special interest: 13 different species of finches
Similarity between them inspired Darwins Origin of Species

Turtles:
- Successful group of individuals
- Characteristics: Short neck, sleep,
- Special interest: Pacific green sea turtle -only nesting sea turtle of
Galapagos

Giant Tortoises:
Characteristics: Long neck, never sleep

Iguanas: Reptiles
Two types
Land iguana
Marine iguana- Galapagos only place to have this organism
Characteristics:Can swim in water (12 m down). Also have
sharp claws to hold onto rocks and also to scrape algae off
rocks.
Both: Terrestrial iguanas ancestors who evolved differently
 Color: adapt to situational changes. This causes a variation
among the different types of iguanas present.
Shades of browns-yellow

Both have big bulky legs and body structures

Diet: Both feed on vegetation

Flightless Cormorant:
18 different species
Ex. Blue Footed Boobies
Characteristics: Ocean travers, Diverse , Great at diving,
Body Structure:Thick legs & huge web feet
How its survived: No land predators in the Galapagos. Its diet is
versified, bottom dwelling fish, small eels, etc
Why it does not fly: All resources are close to shore. Also there is almost
not any competition for its resources.

Sea lions:
Two types: Fur Seals and Sea Lions
Fur Seal: Ancestors from California
Hunted in past for fur.
Active in the day, yet shy
Reproduction: 9 month gestation period, 1-2 young at each
time, nurse young

Sea lions: Ancestors from the south (chile)

Characteristics: larger than fur seals. Have a longer face/dog
face

Galapagos Penguins:
From South America; however, were carried to islands by strong ocean
currents and then adapted
Relatively small

Galapagos-Conserving the Last of Eden

By professor- Juan Jose Alava
Researcher with Vancouver Aquarium: Ocean Pollution Research Program
 The Galapagos is considered of the last Edens of the world. The Galapagos is
made up of 13 islands, the youngest of which some seem to say is 6 million years old;
however, that value is really up for debate at this point in time. So the Galapagos
islands are influenced by numerous water currents. The main influence is the South
Equatorial Current which is made up of the Peru and Panama currents and then by
another current called the Equatorial Undercurrent. Sea surface temperature is also an
influence of ocean conditions. For instance, during El Nino years oceans rise in
temperature; whereas, La Nina has the opposite effect following El Nino. It was from the
common physical traits that Darwin saw while traveling amongst the Galapagos islands
(finches) on his Beagle Voyage in 1859 that inspired his Origin of Species work. Juan
Jose Alava does mention a lot of similar organisms that were already mentioned in the
first response for this chapter; however he did mention that some scientist believe that
marine iguanas arrived on the islands from being passengers on floating vegetation
mats. One interesting fact Alava did provide was the the Galapagos Have highest
biomass of sharks and biodiversity and that there are Schools of hammerheads and
groups of galapagos sharks (Video).
Alava also mentioned some practices that have been but in place to help with
land conservation/management. This policies included things such as Whale Sanctuary
(1990) and Special Law of Galapagos (1998). The protection of the Galapagos islands
is so very important for they are areas of biodiversity hotspots, hence they are important
for species enrichment yet are areas of vulnerability. Factors such as human
interactions, pollution and oil spills threaten the many species of the Galapagos islands.
In rue against this, Alva is a part of an organization that helps capture, rehabilitate and
release sick and injured animals of the Galapagos.

Galapagos Finch Evolution/ Evolution in the Galapagos Islands (2 in 1

summary)
This documentary had to deal with Peter and Rosemary Grants research
surrounding Charles Darwin's Finches. Basically, the Grants were allowed in the
Galapagos to do research and present that said research. During the three years that
the Grants spent in the Galapagos, they experienced different population sizes, make
up of the finches present. For instance, the first year they were conducting research,
they took pictures of the finches and marked several of them after measuring their beak
side.
Following this first year, there was a significant drought that took place in
Ecuador. There was only a fractions amount of rain fallen that year than typical years.
Hence, when the Grants returned to the islands they found far less numbers of finches
and those that were still present had significantly larger beaks? Well further
investigation would later prove that these finches had to adapt to have bigger beaks in
order to eat the larger seeds in the area- which was their own source of food. Finches
that did this survived. The following year ( year 3) they found almost the same results,
except there was only one new offspring that survived to this year. Proving that
evolution can happen quickly; however, adaption is always happening.
This information the Grants discovered here would true to be, for it
highlights the hypotheses Charles Darwin stated in his Origin of Species, that those
close in relation will have an ancient ancestor. Hence why he saw similar beak sizes
among different species of finches of different islands during his Begal Voyage. Some
factor would have to link these traits and organisms together.

The origin of birds

Birds with feather wings have existed in the worlds the years upon years; however, until
recently the exact origins of these birds was unknown. Feather wings are an advantage
for a bird for their wings can be stiff and flexible at the same time and they are able to
be flapped. Following Charles Darwin's logic that if organisms had relations they would
have a common ancestor and therefore, there would be fossils to prove this fact. The
first clue to a potential ancestor of feather birds was the fossil of the organism called
Archeopteryx. This fossil was 150 million yrs old and had feathers on both its wings
and tail. A few years later the fossil of an organism Compsognathus was discovered.
This organism had a more turkey like look to it; however, it helped prove the fact that
the ancestor of the feathered bird would need to have a wish bone. Dinosaurs had
wishbones, so some scientist were already speculating if this organism ancient ancestor
was a dinosaur but there was no physical proof. Then in 1963 a discovery was made
(through fossils) that dinosaurs were in deemed warm blood and could be fast.
Finally the fossil of the Theropod was found and this was the missing link
scientist had been looking for, for years. This organism walked on two legs (like
dinosaurs) , had a wish bone (like t-rex), had 3 fore facing digits and one smaller back
digit, and a s-shaped neck (like all dinosaurs). And then in the 1980s a fossil
Sinosauropteryx was found in China. This fossil had private feathers. This just
completed the quest of finding the theropod ancestry of the feather bird! Scientist
believe that these primitive feathers could have been used for courtship or insulation!