On the Galapagos Islands, there are three major ecosystems: terrestrial, coastal and marine. In the years of El Niño, the ecosystems show their characteristic behaviours. In the terrestrial zone predominate heavy rains, which has a positive effect on the animals and plants in this zone.
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What is the environment of the Galapagos Islands like?
The Galápagos Islands, located in the Pacific Ocean, about a thousand kilometers (600 miles) west of Ecuador, have a peculiar climate, tropical and semi-arid, with a hot, relatively rainy season from January to May and a cool, dry, cloudy, and misty season, from July to November.
What is the biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands?
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 are 3 types of animals that live on the Galapagos Islands?
9 animals you’ll only find in the Galápagos
- Galápagos land iguana.
- Marine iguanas.
- Galápagos giant tortoise.
- Darwin’s finches.
- Frigatebirds.
- Blue-footed boobies.
- Flightless cormorants.
- Sally Lightfoot crabs.
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.
What type of climate does the Galapagos Islands have?
subtropical
The climate of the Islands can best be described as subtropical. There is, however, some variation driven mainly by the ocean currents. December to May can be best described as the warm season. This period brings a unique mixture of warmth, rain, and sun.
How did the environment on the Galapagos Islands change?
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.
What are the 5 endemic mammals of the Galapagos Islands?
Top 5 Galapagos Endemic Species
- Galapagos Tortoise. Giant tortoises are one of the most iconic animals of the Galapagos, being top of most visitor wish lists and a flagship species for conservation efforts across the islands.
- Marine Iguana.
- Galapagos Finches.
- Flightless Cormorant.
- Galapagos Fur Seal.
What makes the ecosystem of the Galápagos island different than those found on large continents?
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.
What are 3 characteristics of the Galápagos tortoise?
Shell functions (Chiari et al. 2009)
- Protection.
- Regulation of body temperature (thermoregulation)
- Facilitation of mating and reproduction.
- Ability to turn over (“self-righting”)
- Locomotion.
- Storage of water, fat, and wastes.
What is Galapagos famous for?
Six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador lies the Galápagos Archipelago: a world unto itself, forged of lava and isolated for thousands of years. The islands are known for their famously fearless wildlife and as a source of inspiration for Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Why are the Galapagos Islands Unique?
The Galapagos Islands are uniquely located on both sides of the equator in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The islands are situated at a point in the Pacific Ocean where three ocean currents collide, creating a unique area in the sea where warm and varying degrees of cold water meet.
Are there pink iguanas?
Pink iguanas are not just a different colour from other land iguanas; they are a completely separate species. There are only around 200 left, and they are confined to the slopes of Wolf Volcano on Isabela, making them one of the most vulnerable species in Galapagos, as the volcano is still active.
What is the Galapagos tortoise role in ecosystem?
Galapagos giant tortoises shape their habitats by grazing on plants, dispersing plant seeds and trampling areas of vegetation. They therefore play an important role in germinating seeds, as well as in thinning out and opening up new areas of ground for different types of vegetation to grow.
What kind of special adaptations do the animals and plants have in the Galapagos?
These adaptations include a short, blunt stout, a long, flat, incredibly strong tail that propels it through the water, and a special gland that allows it to expel excess salt from its body.
Is the Galapagos 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 is the weather and climate in the Galapagos Islands?
It has a tropical climate with an average of 29°C and water temperature of around 25.5°C on average. The warmer months are followed by coolers months from June to November.With low levels of precipitation, the cooler months are also known as the dry season in the Galapagos Islands.
How cold is the water in the Galapagos Islands?
Surface Water Temperature: 71°F – 74 °F
The waters of the Galapagos are influenced by the Humboldt Current that brings cold water to the islands, especially during the mist or Garua season (cool, dry weather) from June to December.
Are the Galapagos Islands Cold?
Galapagos Island weather is divided into two distinct seasons, the “warm” season occurs December through May and the “cool” season occurs June through November. Warm and cool are relative since temperatures are always quite warm.
What are the main problems for the island ecosystems?
These include the disposal of mine wastes, tailings and processing wastes, erosion problems and the pollution of rivers in mined areas, loss of natural habitat or of land with agricultural potential, and the abandonment of unusable wastelands once the mining has ended.
How does climate change affect Galapagos penguins?
El Niño heavily influences the Galapagos penguin populations as it makes the waters around Galapagos warmer, making their food less abundant.Increasing frequency and severity of El Niño weather events due to global climate change is a major threat to the Galapagos penguin, especially when they are at low numbers.
