Overview

Taxonomic Groups	Total # native sp.	Total # & (%) endemic sp.	# extinct species	# threatened sp.
Vascular Plants	541	229 (42)	2	36
Lichens & Bryophytes	329	26 (8)	0?	0?
Land Snails	83	80 (96)	0?	18?
Insects	1,616	900 (56)(4)	0?	0?
Other Arthropods	296	81 (27)	0?	0?
Reptiles	35	32 (91)	3	12
Birds	57	28 (49)	0	5?
Mammals	14	11 (79)	8	3
Subtotal	2,971	1,387 (47)	13	74
Algae	333	116 (35)	0	0
Fish	306	51 (17)(4)	0	0
Marine Invertebrates(5)	1,945	349 (18)	0	0
Subtotal	2,584	516 (20)	0	0
TOTAL	5,555	1,903 (34)	13	74

The above chart is taken from Biodiversity Conservation and Human Population Impacts (BCHPI), Macfarland, C and M Cifuentes, 1999. Both authors were contacted November 16, 2004 and a breakdown of the above data was requested. Should a response be received, it will be posted here. Please keep in mind that the above chart covers the entire Galapagos. A similar chart for the islands of Isabela and Fernandina is in progress.

• high level of genetic diversity within distict populations of a single species           
• 8 of the 11 terrestrial land mammals on islands are now extinct, six due to invasive species           
• Of the 30 extinctions, 26-28 have been caused by human interference
• References for extinction data and human impact: (Hamann, 1979a, 1979b, 1981, 1984, 1991, 1993a and 1993b; Hoeck, 1984)

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Biodiversity

“To summarize the information on biodiversity in relation to this case study, the Galápagos is the largest, most complex, and most diverse archipelago remaining in the world that is still largely in pristine condition. This fact alone makes the Galápagos the most special remaining oceanic island system in the world.” (BCHPI, 1999)

“Galápagos ranks as one of the three most important sites in the entire tropics of the Western Hemisphere, along with Barro Colorado Island Natural Monument (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute) in Panama and the La Selva Biological Station and Reserve (Organization for Tropical Studies) in Costa Rica.”

//I should paraphrase this finding, but find the information interesting enough to leave as first expressed. I am not particularly familiar with the work going on at the OTS, but did spend three weeks there, or about five days at each of the three primary research stations, and would note that if these are the havens of good research then we have a tremendous amount of work to do to support such endeavors. This is not to discredit what was happening in these places, but rather prompt awareness.//

• Actions taken to preserve this biodiversity           
• over 6,000 publications since 1959           
• educational tourism           
• 500 Ecuadorian advanced level undergraduates train at CDRS           
• 100 PhDs / masters for work done in Galapagos
• Speciation         
• Btw 5500-6000 species, both terrestrial and aquatic, identified          
• Predicted 7000-9000 distinct species
• //These references were provided with respect to this number. Perhaps a good source for future research? (Baert, 1994; James, 1991; Lawesson, et.al., 1987; Lawesson, 1990a; Loope, et.al., 1988; Peck, 1993; Porter, 1984; Snell, 1995; Weber, 1986; Weber and Gradstein, 1984; Wellington, 1984)//
• Deme: demographic species sub-unit (Wright, 1943)           
• “When gene flow is restricted, such isolates are likely to be susceptible to rapid genetic divergence (Wright 1943, 1969, 1978, Endler 1977, Slatkin 1985) as well as to genetic depletion (Soulé 1980, Lande 1988). Thus … even large populationsh may have small effective numbers which may affect the probability of the species’ persistence over time (Goodman 1987, Lande and Barrowclough 1987, Shaffer 1987)” (BCHPI, 1999)

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Birds

The following bird species are either particularly rare, interesting, or endemic to the islands of Isabela or Fernandina.

Galapagos hawk, Buteo galapagoensis, is well documented in“Galapagos Hawks”, Parker, P. These birds nest on the slopes of Alcedo valcono, and are our only raptor.       

Flightless Cormorant (“Effective Population Size and Demography of the Rare Flightless Galapagos Cormorant”, Valle, C.)           

• Distributed along 350 km of Fernandina and western Isabela, ~980 birds           
• 1900 through 1992, population stable both demographically and in number    
• population rebounded ’97 from 50% back to 100% in a year          
• genetic variance of 4.9% over entire population, genetically effective population ~66%
• information on effective numbers in Rockwell and Barrowclough, 1987            
• fishing for sea cucumbers threat to food supply           
• do not tend to go farther than 30 m beyond high tide           
• range between 12 and 18 km, will sometimes move as much as 30 - 40 km in 2 - 3 wks           
• mean annual survival rate of 92%           
• begin to bread at one year six months                                             
• smallest natural marine bird population in world           
• raises question of how the population remains constant: “(1) what prevents range expansion, what limits numbers within their present range?” (Valle, p. 613)           
• population has tried to relocate but consistently returns to standard range                       
• breeding not successful at Punta Garcia, Caleta Webb unsustainable           
• expansion limited by abundance of food supply           
• average bird will die in two to three days without food                   
• rats most dangerous introduced land animal, sea cucumbers fishing

Dark-rumped Petrel (“Feeding Ecology of the Dark-Rumped Petrel in the Galapagos Islands”, Imber, MJ, Cruz, JB, Cruz, F)

• belong to Pterodroma spp           
• full grown, weight is approximately 420 g           
• study covered in this report ran over a three year time period, 1984- ’86 and studied 82 chicks          
• Cerro Pajas, Floreana, Media Luna, Santa Cruz, and Santiago Island
• meal density, 3.75+/- 1.03 days / feeding at birth, every tenth day last 20 days in nest         
• initially, chicks fed stomach oil, then regurgitated fish and oil-Refer to the text of the article for an excellent analysis of feeding habits that far exceeds this summary
• tend to feed at night in surface waters with a range of 2000 km          
• 46% cephalopods (16 families), 37% fish (7), 17% crustaccans (5)
• primary fish: Sternoptychidae, Exocoetidae, Stomiatoid dragonfish, Macrouridae,
• primary crustacean: Amphipods, Isopods, Decapods
• primary Cephalopoda: Stheroteuthis oualaniensis, Onychoteuthis banksii, Mastigoteuthis dentate, Pholidoteuthis boschmai, Chiroteuthis veranyi

Finches ( “The Rarest of Darwin’s Finches,” Grant, Peter and Rosemary)

• Habitat of the Mangrove Finch, Cactospiza heliobates           
• initially, six distinct patches of mangrove on Isabela and Fernandina           
• presently, four patches on Isabela, last sighting on Fernandina made 1974           
• map in article of deme locations           
• territory estimated at 50 m
• Threats           
• wasp species Polistes versicolor, introduced in 1986 (Heraty and Abedabbro, 1992)           
• habitat destruction
• Research methods           
• Punta Tortuga and Playa Tortuga Negra, Punta Espinosa           
• played taped calls to attract males           
• good summary on how one could study these birds further on page 6
• Results           
• five males, four females were encountered at Playa Tortuga Negra           
• forage in dead mangrove leaves and roots for arthropods           
• nests observed ~10 m above ground level           
• in the 200 by 600 m plot studied on S. Isabela, 20 breeding pairs estimated           
• Bahía Elizabeth may sustain 60-180 breeding pairs            
• genetically effective population estimated at 70-380 pairs

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Insects

This section is still very much under construction. The articles I have found most interesting thus far have only had their abstract's online. The body of the document should be examined this week, and subsequently, information posted. A prime candidate here is: 150 Years of Entomological Studies in the Galapagos,  Roque, Lazaro and C Cauton. The present CDRF program began in 1995, and in 1999 1900 species were identified, 1600 of which were native.

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Plants

"Plant Research Overview, Current activities, and priorities" Tye, Alen (head, dept. plant and invertebrate sciences CDRS)            //contacted Nov. 16th//

• 1996, CDRC opened department of Plant and Invertebrate Sciences (combination of entomology program and Dept. of Terrestrial Plants)          
• monitor introduced species, their native enemies, and research correlation                       
• (GNPS and DPA, Department of Provincial Agriculture)           
• focus on conservation of natural ecosystems           
• visiting scientists provide a depth of interest and goal                       
• Long term monitoring of vegetation change due to introduced herbivores                                   
• Dr. Ole Hamann of Copenhagen University                                             
• micro-flora was not well studied-1996-1998, Ecuadorian-Canadian Development Fund paid for increased                                            
• management of ag. Zones-fences to protect species, between $2,000 and $25,000 (Alcedo Volcano)
• Dept. maintains CDRS museum, Herbarium, and database of flora // The database and Herbarium recently redesigned, now containing threat status as well as species health – potentially good source for information. How do they determine threat at present? What is the IUCN?//
• Protection of native species and communities           
• MAUCHAMP, 1996  - good resource....need to get a copy                     
• review of donkeys and goats on Alcedo                       
• plant growth with respect to season           
• Management plans for threatened species           
• Protection measures
• Funding provided by Monsanto            \
• FZS and Isabela project fundsSpecific information on endemic species           

“Biogeography of Scalesia (Asteraceae)”, Itow, Syozo          

• -15 species, 12 shrubs and three trees           
• mature in 15 years           
• self-perpetuating germination           
• biomass wood Ww = 0.079 (D*H)1.209, biomass foliage Wf = 0.0141 (D*H)0.571, D (DBHOB, cm) and H (tree height, m)                      
• between 25 and 16% of total biomass in forest

Article: “Achievements in the Plant Area During 40 Years of the Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos”, Aldaz, Ivan and Alan Tye

• Studies to assess damage due to invasive species           
• begin in 1960’s           
• eradication of large herbivours-construction of enclosures           
• eradication and control of exotic plants           
• decrease in exploitation of native lumber sources //It is a privilege to live in a place like the Galapagos islands, but that said it is a privilage to live anywhere in the world. As we design the green village, this concept should be apparent. Can’t exploit elsewhere to idealize a single, small system…// //In the above article, a series of reports are mentioned qualifying the success of different methods. These might be helpful to look through. We should also try to find something to give him in exchange. Is whatever work comes of this worth the exchange?//           

(“Effects of the 1997-1998 El Niño Event on the Vegetation fo Alcedo Volcano, Isabela”, Ivan Aldaz and Alan Tye)

• Initial conditions           
• 75,000-100,000 goats had decimated most of Alcedo volcano’s vegetation           
• Nov., 1995 monitoring system established to watch vegitation           
• 14 quadrants of 900m were set on the southern slope-4 quadrants of 400 m were set to study Darwiniothamnus tenuifolius, Scalesia Microcephala­-sections catalogued every six months //information on how plants have been monitored in the past can be found in the monitoring manual of Mauchamp, 1996//
• Results           
• garúa season, 1995 – 32 species           
• May, 1996 – 57 species (including annuals)           
• garüa season, 1996, 50 species           
• April, 1998 – 102 species           
• October, 1998 – 86 species-rare species found: Phytolacca octandra, Jaltomata werfii, Pleuropetalum darwinii           
• Paspalum conjugatum recovers very well with rain, maybe too well
• Borreria laevis, Cyperus brevifolius, Dichondra repens, Pteridium aquilinum, Cuphea carthagenensis, Plantago major, Hyptis rhomboidea, Physalis pubescens, Elaterium carthagenense, and Sida rhombifolia particularly common           
• Ricinus communis, an introduced species, flourishes with rain
• Invasive species to watch out for: Sida rhombifolia, Hyptis rhomboidea, Plantago major, Synedrella nodiflora, Eleusine indica, Cuphea carthagenensis, Sonchus oleraceus, Stachytarpheta cayennensis, Canna lutea, and Datura stramonium (past articles on these species and their behavior include van der Werff, 1978, Hamann, 1981, Lawesson, 1987, and Freire, 1992)
• vegetation that tends to prosper during drought on the steep slopes of Alcedo volcano very susceptible to erosion during rainy season

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