Island Conservation
Researchers discover that the Galápagos Land Iguana is providing an important ecological service by dispersing seeds of native vegetation. People often think of mammals as contributors to the spread of plant seeds—they eat the seeds contained in the fruit and later leave them behind elsewhere, a phenomenon known as “seed dispersal.” But, not only mammals do […]
Conservation projects to save native plants and animals are well-underway in the Galápagos. The Galápagos Islands are renowned for their astonishing biodiversity and are famous for their essential part in the development of Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. But ever since human settlement, the Galápagos Islands have suffered ecological deterioration. Fortunately, lots of people are […]
A new study shows that the native Galápagos Critically Endangered Mangrove Finch–which is imperiled by invasive predators and struggling to survive–is now threatened by inbreeding with a local woodpecker species. The scientific journal Conservation Genetics has published a new study: “Slow motion extinction: inbreeding, introgression, and loss in the critically endangered mangrove finch,” explores the threats that […]
The San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher, a bird species endemic to the Galápagos Islands, has gone extinct. The Galápagos Islands are famous for their incredibly high biodiversity. Are they at risk of becoming famous for high extinction rates? The San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus dubius) used to fly, sing, forage, and build nests on San Cristóbal Island of the Galápagos […]
A new report released in the journal Nature examines never before seen self-medicating behavior in Galápagos Finches. Galápagos Finches served as inspiration for Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in the 19th century. Today, these iconic birds, commonly referred to as “Darwin’s finches”, have drawn the attention of scientists once again–but this time it’s not because of the size and shape […]
Research discovers that Diego the Giant Tortoise has helped to save his species from extinction by fathering hundreds of baby tortoises. All was well with Espanola Giant Tortoises (Chelonoidis hoodensis) in the Galápagos–until invasive rats were introduced by pirates and infiltrated the island ecosystem. The presence of rats made reproduction extremely difficult and often unsuccessful […]
Snails, though not exactly a widely celebrated species, have much to offer. They may not be as popular or charming as the world’s widely-recognized endangered megafauna (tigers, elephants, rhinos, pandas, etc), but snails are important for ecosystems functioning around the world. Snails are decomposers–they break down natural material into smaller parts–and as such help to uphold nature’s cycle of life […]
Once a species is extinct, there’s no going back…right? Conservationists in the Galapagos are not so sure. The highly publicized 2012 death of “Lonesome George,” the last Pinta Island native Giant Tortoise in existence, represented a major loss for conservationists and wildlife lovers. The death of Lonesome George marked the fourth extinction of fifteen distinct […]
Sniffing Out Destructive, Invasive Giant African Snails Para Español, click aquí For immediate release: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, GALÁPAGOS – Darwin, a golden Labrador retriever, was rescued after he was unable to complete a service dog training program and black Labrador Neville was saved from a shelter. Now both dogs are paying it forward and saving […]
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, GALÁPAGOS – Darwin, a golden Labrador retriever, was rescued after he was unable to complete a service dog training program and black Labrador Neville was saved from a shelter. Now both dogs are paying it forward and saving other wildlife from destructive, invasive Giant African Snails in the Galápagos Islands. “Invasive Giant […]