Monitoring Proposal for Indicator Species

-Goals
    -Recognize and effectively monitor trends in populations of indicator species (species that readily reflect changes in the environment) to predict/avoid problems before they happen – reduce impact before it is made
    -Further develop the current monitoring techniques for more accurate and time-efficient readings
    -Make a concrete list of indicator species that we would like to monitor, and as for the ones already monitored, concentrate more closely on the accuracy and efficiency of the interpreted data
    
-Birds, in particular, are good indicators
    -they are fragile and often reflect problems in the ecosystem more readily than other species (ex: Galapagos penguin won’t breed if resources are limiting)
    -easier to monitor than many other species (such as fish, black flies)
    -species such as the Waved albatross, boobies (Masked, Blue-footed, and Red-footed), and frigatebirds (both Great and Magnificent) are currently being used by the Charles Darwin Foundation to measure the stress on the environment due to increased tourism in specific areas (for example, CDF looked at reproductive success rates)
    -the Galapagos hawk; a predator (and an endangered species) is at the top of the food chain and so would be most affected by harmful chemical concentrations
    -Darwin’s finches (13 species) have a variety of habitats and, if monitored closely, each subspecies could provide valuable data for a different component of the environment
    -Bird species are monitored by capture-recapture programs, point counts, counts made during a species particular mating season, and counts made by identifying the number and size of the flocks or colonies

-Terrestrial animal species
    -marine iguanas, tortoises, and a few other reptiles are already being monitored by the Charles Darwin Foundation, although, as in the case with the tortoises, the monitoring is to promote a strong “comeback,” not necessarily monitoring environmental stress
    -very few native mammal species on the Galapagos; however the Galapagos Fur Seal and Galapagos Sea Lion can provide useful information since they are affected by the sea as well as the land – CDF is already monitoring the Sea Lions
    -amphibians are good indicators for chemical imbalances in aqueous habitats as well as meter for dramatic changes in pH – they, like birds, are extremely sensitive to varying conditions in water and on land

-Plant Indicators
    -Recently many plants have been threatened by the increase in invasive species such as goats, rats, cats, and pigs
    -Monitoring is necessary to see what level of stress can be applied and endured
    -As tourism and population sizes on the islands increase, the need for indicator species becomes increasingly important
    -currently one of the most accurate, overall method to recording plant species is to go out in the field and measure density, frequency, cover, and biomass of the particular species
    -data from plant indicators must keep in mind that depending on the plant, season, and amount of rain, populations fluctuate rather frequently


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