Photo: Hammerheads Darwin Jonathan
The Marine Ecology Laboratory at GSC focuses on ecological, biological and genetic studies of marine species inhabiting both open sea and intertidal zones of the Galápagos. Our research spans from understanding the base of the food chain under changing oceanographic conditions to conserving migratory species such as sharks, sea turtles and cetaceans — and tackling global threats like plastic pollution.
Understanding Life on Land in the Galápagos
Photo: Joshua Vela
Exploring the Ocean, Protecting Its Life
A variety projects are conducted in our Marine Ecology Lab ranging from primary productivity to marine megafauna.
For example, Dr. Adrian Marchetti (UNC) studies Galapagos waters to better understand the effects of baseline oceanographic conditions, El Niño events, and the impacts of climate change on the production of phytoplankton throughout the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
Photo: Alexander Custer
Research is also conducted by Dr. Maggy Brandt (USFQ) and her collaborators Dr. Mike Kingsford (James Cook University) and Dr. John Bruno (UNC) in GSC´s aquarium mesocosm where they can control and modify seawater parameters to identify long term changes in the ecosystem and fauna caused by climate change.
Photo: Carlos Gavela
There are also many projects focused on better understanding marine migratory species such as the research of Dr. Alex Hearn (USFQ) on sharks as well as Daniela Alarcón (GSC) and Juan Pablo Muñoz (USFQ) and their work with sea turtles and cetaceans, all providing valuable information to help inform policies that create protected marine corridors for these important species.
Finally, we conduct research to better understand the main threats to the oceans and the species that inhabit them. For example, Juan Pablo Muñoz (USFQ) has been researching and raising awareness around the global plastic pollution problem, highlighting the necessity to change our consumption habits in order to preserve our ecosystem.
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The Marine Ecology Lab is equipped with a cold room for sample storage, diving equipment, necropsy room and terrace for external experiments.
Photo: Greenpeace
Join Our Mission
In 2022, the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) and the broader UNC & USFQ Galapagos Initiative will celebrate its 10th Anniversary. We are proud to announce the World Summit on Island Sustainability scheduled to be held on June 26–30, 2022 at the Galapagos Science Center and the Community Convention Center on San Cristobal Island.
The content of the World Summit will be distributed globally through social media and results documented through papers published in a book written as part of the Galapagos Book Series by Springer Nature and edited by Steve Walsh (UNC) & Carlos Mena (USFQ) as well as Jill Stewart (UNC) and Juan Pablo Muñoz (GSC/USC). The book will be inclusive and accessible by the broader island community including scientists, managers, residents, tourists, and government and non-government organizations.
While the most obvious goal of organizing the World Summit on Island Sustainability is to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the GSC and the UNC-USFQ Galapagos Initiative, other goals will be addressed through special opportunities created as part of our operational planning of the World Summit.
For instance, we seek to elevate and highlight the Galapagos in the island conservation discourse, seeking to interact with other island networks in more obvious and conspicuous ways to benefit the Galapagos Islands, the UNC-USFQ Galapagos Initiative, and the world. We will seize the opportunity to further develop the I2N2 – International Islands Network-of-Networks. Further, we wish to highlight and emphasize multiple visions of a sustainable future for the Galapagos Islands and we cannot do this alone. Therefore, engaging the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Tourism, the Government Council of Galapagos, the Galapagos National Park, and local Galapagos authorities, including government and non-government organizations and local citizen groups, is imperative.
Borrowing from Hawaii’s and Guam’s Green Growth Program and the Global Island Partnership, we wish to examine existing global programs that emphasize island sustainability and their incorporation into life, policies, and circumstances in the Galapagos Islands. We will also seek to enhance our connections with the institutional members of our International Galapagos Science Consortium and expand the Consortium through the recruitment of other member institutions. We will also work to benefit islands and their local communities by working with citizen groups as well as important NGOs who seek to improve the natural conditions in the Galapagos and diminish the impact of the human dimension on the future of Galapagos’ ecosystems.
Lastly, we will use the World Summit to benefit UNC & USFQ and our constituencies through a strong and vibrant communication plan about the World Summit, creating corporate relationships as sponsors, identifying funding goals through donors, and benefiting our study abroad program for student engagement in the Galapagos Islands. We plan to develop and issue a Galapagos Sustainability Communique after the World Summit that includes the vision and insights of all its participants for a sustainable Galapagos with applicability to global island settings.
We are eager to hear your perspective and have you join us at the World Summit on Island Sustainability!