MIT
Mission 2008 ; Solving Complex Problems
Las  Iguanas
Team 1
Keron Lezama

From the beginning of class to present date, Las Iguanas Team 1 has decided to collect necessary background data to first learn the apparent problems and then decide how we shall tackle these complex problems.

The team separated into two major groups namely; Political (those members who would tackle obtaining pertainent information comcerning the establishment of the Governing Body ) and  Environmental ( members who would seek information on our asigned islands )

I was assigned to gather information on GENOVESA also known as Tower Island.

General Description   TheArchipiélago de Colón –(Galápagos) Biosphere Reserve (also a National Park and a World Heritage site), is situated in the east Pacific Ocean, 1,000 km from the mainland of Ecuador, with the equator running through the Wolf and Ecuador volcanoes on Isabella Island. Situated on the Galapagos Submarine Platform, the Galapagos Islands consist of 13 islands. These islands were formed 4 million years ago by volcanic processes and most represent the summit of a volcano, some of which rise over 3,000 meters from the Pacific Ocean floor. The larger islands typically comprise one or more gently sloping shield volcanoes, culminating in craters or calderas and the terrain are generally composed of uplifted marine lava flows. More than 250 species are non-native introductions occurring predominantly around human settlements. Coastal vegetation, influenced by the presence of salt, occurs along beaches, salt-water lagoons and low, broken, boulder-strewn shores. The endemic fauna includes invertebrate, reptile and bird species. There are a few indigenous mammals. All the reptiles are endemic, except two marine tortoises, and include giant tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus) , terrestrial iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus and C. pallidus), and marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus). The 1999 resident population numbered some 15,600 persons. Freshwater is a critically limiting factor, and only San Cristobal has adequate perennial supplies for the local human population. Tourism, cattle grazing and fishing are key components of the islands' economy. Immigration from the mainland is uncontrolled and increasing. Approximately 49,000 foreign and 14,000 national tourists visited the islands in 1997. The Government of Ecuador, IUCN and UNESCO - WCH, support the Charles Darwin Research Station jointly and work in programmes, which assist in the management of the reserve.
  Major ecosystem type   Tropical humid forests / Marine archipelago
  Major habitats & land cover types   Littoral zone; arid habitats; Scalesia forest composed of S. pedunculata, S. microcephala and S. cordata; Miconia communities with M. robinsoniana; Matazarno forest with Piscidia carthagenensis; fern- and sedge communities; marine habitats; agroecosystems with coffee, tomato, pepper, fruit etc.; pasture land.
  Location   North: Darwin Island: 01°39'N; 92°00'W
South: Floreana Island: 01°17'S; 90°26'W
East: San Cristóbal Island: 00°48'S; 89°25'W
West: Fernandina Island: 00°22'S; 91°31'W
  Area (hectares)    
  Total   14,761,844
  Core area(s)   65,040
  Buffer zone(s)   696,804 (defined as primitive-, special use- and visitor use zone)
  Transition area(s) when given   14,000,000 (marine reserve zone)
  Altitude (metres above sea level)   0 to +1,707


                                            GENOVESA
Also known as Tower Island.
Area
 14km^2
Altitude
 76m
Population
 0
Geographicalfeatures
 An active but dormant volcano
Calderas with hot lava
Coral beaches
Natural step formations
Temperature/Climate
 Sea temp (18-30^C)
September-November - coldest period, cool season(18-27). More animals are present on island because of cold currents.
February-April - warmest period, rainy season( 22-30)
Visitor sites
 Darwin Bay
Prince Philips Steps
Activities
 Scuba diving
Snorkling
Island Tours
Fauna
 Boodies
frigates
Storm Petrels
Tropical Birds
Sea Lions
Hammerhead Sharks
Sheft eared owls
Flora
 Crotton Bushes
Lava Cactus
Palo Santo
Muyuyo Forest
Saltbrush


A few aspects that the team should focus on.

Control of in reoduced species ; preventing new introductions and controlling the spread of existing ones.
Indepth monitoring ; to help discover now introduced species and assisting in eradicating them.
Find alternate methods of  controlling introduced species other than bringing in contolling agents. eg. ladybug and the mealybug.
Border control ; to minimize and even eliminate illegal fishing.
Education/Awareness campaigns ; this would actively involve the residents of the galapagos islands in both conservation and restoration efforts.


CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2003 (SUMMERY)

The main focus of 2003 was the ability to control introduced species and the eradication of those species that are invasive or harmful to the native species. Long term goals were also in focus as to protect the island from future invasions, this was conducted by a body called SICGAL. These goals were obtained by conducting intense critical research, designing and implementing conservation plans. Extensive reports, filled with scientific facts and statistics, were published based on research done and surveys conducted. These publishings helped the CDF to secure further opportunities for scientist to publish their findings, increasing the awareness of the residents and the global community at large about the occurancesand the sensitivity of the Galapagos Islands. They also helped the CDF to forge necessary alliances and to secure funding for future indepth research endeavours.

The strategy of controlling invasive species took the form of three steps:-
- The prevention of new introductions and the spread of existing species by fortifying the SICGAL Inspection and Quarantine System of the Galapagos Islands.
-Mitigating the harmful effects of existing introduced species.
-Setting up infrastructure for long term existance of the control strategy.

Research and data collection was broken down into four main groups:-
-Land vertebrates :- introduced frog on Isabella Island, cats on Baltra, feral pigeons of Santa Cruz, black rats.

-Land invertebrates:- fire  ants on Marchena, mealy bug and control agent ladybug on Baltra,  black fly , aedes aegypti

-Botany:- goats on Isabela

-Marine:- sea cucumbers, spiny lobster