Sea surface microplastics in the Galapagos: Grab samples reveal high concentrations of particles <200 μm in size
Grabs reveal four-orders of magnitude greater microplastic abundances than tows. 44 % of microplastic particles in seawater grabs were <200 μm. Plankton tows (mesh size 200 μm) underestimate seawater microplastic concentrations.
Divergent responses of pelagic and benthic fish body-size structure to remoteness and protection from humans
Marine megafauna are increasingly threatened and are difficult to protect. Understanding the influence of humans on body size in fishes is also challenging given that data on marine species often come from fishery-based activities.
DNA-metabarcoding supports trophic flexibility and reveals new prey species for the Galapagos sea lion
These findings provide evidence of Galapagos sea lion adopting a trophic flexibility to tune their diets to different ecological contexts. Tropical ecosystems are challenging for pinnipeds due to fluctuating food availability.
Novel herpesvirus in the critically endangered Galapagos pink land iguana
Virus surveillance in wildlife is important to understanding ecosystem health, taxonomy, and evolution. Nevertheless, viruses in reptiles, and specifically in squamates, continue to be understudied. We conducted a health assessment on the critically endangered pink land iguana.
Natural History and Conservation of the Galapagos Snake Rediation
The Galapagos Archipelago has been world-famous since Darwin’s visit and is recognized for its species radiation and high levels of endemism. However, Galapagos snakes of the genus Pseudalsophis remained poorly known until recently.
Concentrations of lead in pinniped bones confirm Galapagos as a relatively unpolluted environment
Lead (Pb) is a trace element that is naturally present in arid regions but it is also released to the marine environment by anthropogenic industrial emissions. Here, we assessed Pb concentrations in bone samples of four pinniped species.
Seroconversion in Galapagos Sea Lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) Confirms the Presence of Canine Distemper Virus in Rookeries of San Cristobal Island
JThe emblematic Galapagos sea lion (GSL—Zalophus wollebaeki) has faced an important population decline over the last four decades.
Assessment of nursery areas for the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) across the Eastern Tropical Pacific using a stable isotopes approach
The scalloped hammerhead shark is one of the most iconic marine species across the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), yet little is still known about its reproductive biology.
Galapagos Pinnipeds, Challenges to Their Survival
Pinnipeds endemic to the Galapagos archipelago are in endangered conservation status. The Galapagos sea lion, Zalophus wollebaeki, and Galapagos fur seal, Arctocephalus galapagoensis, have adapted to an ecosystem with high environmental variability and unpredictable marine productivity to survive.
When pink is a question: Comparative gross and microscopic skin structure analyses reveal the histological basis of skin colour in Galápagos pink land iguanas (Conolophus marthae)
One of the rarest and most unusual iguanas on the planet is the Galápagos pink land iguana (Conolophus marthae).
