The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the highest levels of endemism (species found nowhere else on earth) anywhere on the planet. About 80% of the land birds you will see , 97% of the reptiles and land mammals, and more than 30% of the plants are endemic.
What type of ecosystem is the Galapagos Islands?
Environmental conditions make the Galápagos a unique island ecosystem . The Galápagos Islands are located near the equator, yet they receive cool ocean currents. This makes for a strange mix of tropical and temperate climates. For most of their history, the islands have been extremely isolated.
Is the Galapagos Islands a biodiversity hotspot?
Reached by four major ocean currents, including upwellings of deep water rich in nutrients, the Galápagos Islands off the coast of South America are a hotspot of biodiversity . Coexisting at this junction are tropical and temperate species and species typically found farther south.
What are the main threats to Galapagos Island biodiversity?
The Galapagos Islands face many environmental threats. Ecosystem degradation could be caused by: climate change, deforestation, pollution , overfishing, eutrophication and the introduction of invasive species.
Why does the Galapagos Islands have high biodiversity?
The Galapagos Islands are so biodiverse because of the many different habitat zones that can be found across the Islands . There are coral reefs, highland forests, sand dunes and scrubland, and the changing habitats from island to island. Species diversity is only one piece of the biodiversity puzzle.
Why are islands so important?
Figure 1 Islands are important to environmental conservation for at least four interconnected reasons: (i) they are global hotspots of cultural, biological and geophysical diversity and uniqueness ; (ii) they are paradigmatic places of human–environment relationships; (iii) they form a global cultural and ecological web ...
What country owns Galapagos?
Galapagos Islands, Spanish Islas Galápagos, officially Archipiélago de Colón (“Columbus Archipelago”), island group of the eastern Pacific Ocean, administratively a province of Ecuador .
Who lives on Galapagos Island?
The Galapagos Population Today – Do people live on the Galapagos Islands. Currently, four islands are inhabited, with a total of around 30,000 inhabitants. The largest ethnic group is Ecuadorian Mestizos . In 1959, only 1,000 to 2,000 people lived on the islands, growing to 15,000 by the 1980s.
Why are the Galapagos Islands so important?
Six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador lie the volcanic islands of the Galápagos, famous for a wealth of unique plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. The Galápagos Islands were the source of Darwin's theory of evolution and remain a priceless living laboratory for scientists today.
Is Galapagos in danger?
The World Heritage Committee decided to remove the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) from the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger , despite IUCN ́s recommendation to the contrary. ... “Threats from tourism, invasive species and overfishing are still factors and the situation in the Galapagos remains critical,” adds Badman.
Why is it important to save the Galapagos Islands?
The Importance of Galapagos Conservation
The Galapagos Islands are special because the wildlife and ecosystems that exist there are unique . Many species are endemic. This means that if threats to these are not kept in check, the wildlife could be put at risk and ultimately could become extinct.
Is tourism bad for the Galapagos Islands?
Tourism can be seen as being both good and bad for Galapagos . ... As more tourists visit the Islands, they will need more places to stay meaning that big hotels could be constructed that possibly endanger nearby wildlife.
Why are Galapagos animals so unique?
The Galapagos Islands are also extremely pristine: no other place on earth is as free of introduced and invasive species. Galapagos is also extraordinary because of the unique experience one has while visiting it. Because it was so isolated for so long , Galapagos wildlife never developed a fear of humans.
How many animals are endemic to the Galapagos Islands?
The Galapagos is home to over 9,000 species . These are all recorded in the datazone produced by the Charles Darwin Foundation. The list is always growing – despite scientists studying the wildlife on and around Galapagos for three centuries; new species are still being discovered every year.
What happened to the Galapagos Island?
Famed Darwin's Arch in Galapagos Islands collapses due to erosion , officials say. Darwin's Arch, a famous natural rock formation off the coast of the Galapagos Islands, collapsed on Monday, and Ecuadorian officials blame erosion.
How do islands affect humans?
Island environments are particularly sensitive to human impact because their generally smaller size means resources are limited, scarce or finite, resulting in increased pressure on those resources. Their often isolated location reduces the options or buffers available to the islanders in times of crisis.
