Foto: Joshua Vela
Durante los meses de marzo y abril, se llevaron a cabo actividades de monitoreo e investigación científica.
A partir del otoño de 2024, el Programa de Becas Kenan Galápagos, financiado por William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, ofrecerá a estudiantes de posgrado y posdoctorales de la UNC-Chapel Hill a oportunidad de realizar investigaciones en las Islas Galápagos para contribuir a la conservación de este ecosistema único.
¿Quieres ser parte de la revolución en conservación ambiental? ¡Entonces el Galápagos Data Hub es tu nuevo destino digital! Descubre una herramienta única, que recopila, analiza y comparte información geoespacial crucial para la gestión sostenible.
The commentary on the article “Addressing illegal longlining and ghost fishing in the Galapagos marine reserve: an overview of challenges and potential solutions” by Alex Hearn and Santiago Bucaram questions the proposal to develop an open water tuna fishery, warning about the risks of legalizing harmful fishing practices for the marine ecosystem. Additionally, they analyze the challenges faced by the Galapagos due to the use of illegal longlines.
This study reveals that the artisanal fishing sector along the coastal regions of Ecuador (excluding Galapagos) and Peru faces significant economic losses due to the considerable presence of marine plastic debris which directly impacts productivity.
This study, published in Marine Ecology Progress Series, examines how nutrient availability can help marine macroalgae in the Galápagos Islands better adapt to higher temperatures—a challenge they face due to climate change. Macroalgae are essential aquatic plants for marine ecosystems as they provide food and shelter for many species. However, their ability to survive and thrive largely depends on environmental conditions, such as the amount of nutrients in the water.
Los tiburones zorro son depredadores clave en los ecosistemas marinos del Océano Pacífico Tropical, donde juegan un papel fundamental en el equilibrio ecológico. Se alimentan principalmente de calamares y peces pequeños. Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar posibles cambios ontogénicos en los hábitos alimentarios y uso de hábitat de dos especies de tiburón zorro (Alopias pelagicus y Alopias superciliosus) que habitan en la Reserva Marina de Galápagos (RMG), aspectos que son poco conocidos en la región.
Los cambios en el ambiente contribuyen a la llegada de especies no nativas y sus patógenos a ecosistemas sensibles como las Islas Galápagos. Esto representa un riesgo considerable para las especies únicas del archipiélago. Entre ellas, el lobo marino de Galápagos (Zalophus wollebaeki), un animal endémico y en peligro de extinción, que se enfrenta a enfermedades por el contacto con animales domésticos introducidos.
El comentario al artículo “Addressing illegal longlining and ghost fishing in the Galapagos marine reserve: an overview of challenges and potential solutions” de Alex Hearn y Santiago Bucaram cuestiona propuestas para desarrollar una pesquería de atún en alta mar, alertando sobre los riesgos de legalizar técnicas dañinas para el ecosistema marino. Además, analiza los desafíos que enfrentan las Islas Galápagos debido al uso de palangres ilegales.
A recent study has revealed an alarming decline in marine turtle populations in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. This research, based on over 35,000 dives conducted at Cocos Island, Costa Rica, over a period of 26 years, provides deep insights into the vulnerability of turtles to environmental pressures and predators.
Marine vertebrates, particularly green sea turtles, are especially vulnerable to plastic pollution through ingestion or entanglement. This study investigated wild juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from two Ecuadorian national parks (Galápagos and Machalilla) to assess the prevalence of plastic pollution in their feces and its potential impact on various health metrics.
This study presents the first records of connectivity between hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the Galápagos Islands and mainland Ecuador.
The future of Scalesia is under threat due to invasive species introduced by human activities. The Scalesia Microbiome Project (SMP), established under the Galapagos Barcode initiative, aims to characterize the microbiome associated with Scalesia species to inform restoration efforts.
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, en la isla San Cristóbal, será la sede del 7º Simposio de Investigación y Conservación en Galápagos.
Este importante evento multidisciplinario, que se llevará a cabo el lunes 14 y martes 15 de julio de 2025 en el Centro de Convenciones Charles Darwin, será organizado por el Galápagos Science Center, gracias al auspicio de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Chapel Hill y la Universidad San Francisco de Quito, y con el apoyo del Parque Nacional Galápagos.
El 6º Simposio de Investigación y Conservación de Galápagos se llevó a cabo el lunes 15 y martes 16 de julio de 2024 en el Centro de Convenciones Charles Darwin en San Cristóbal, Galápagos.
Este importante evento multidisciplinario fue organizado por el Galápagos Science Center, con el auspicio de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Chapel Hill y la Universidad San Francisco de Quito, y con el aval del Parque Nacional Galápagos.
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, en la isla San Cristóbal, será la sede del 5º Simposio de Investigación y Conservación de Galápagos.
Este importante evento multidisciplinario contará con presentaciones científicas y charlas enfocadas en la comunidad, mostrando investigaciones e iniciativas relacionadas con la conservación, el cambio ambiental, la biodiversidad y los océanos, la salud y las iniciativas comunitarias.
En 2022, el Galápagos Science Center (GSC) y la iniciativa más amplia UNC & USFQ Galápagos celebraron su décimo aniversario.
El GSC organizó la Cumbre Mundial sobre Sostenibilidad Insular del 26 al 30 de junio de 2022 en el Galápagos Science Center y en el Centro de Convenciones Comunitario en San Cristóbal.
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristóbal Island, will host the 7th Symposium on Research and Conservation in Galápagos. This important multidisciplinary event, which will take place on Monday, July 14 and Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the Charles Darwin Convention Center, will be organized by the Galapagos Science Center, thanks to the sponsorship of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and with the support of the Galápagos National Park.
The 6th Galápagos Research and Conservation Symposium took place on Monday, July 15 and Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at the Charles Darwin Convention Center on San Cristóbal, Galápagos. This important multidisciplinary event was organized by the Galapagos Science Center, with the sponsorship of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito with the endorsement of the Galapagos National Park.
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristóbal Island, will host the 5th Galapagos Research and Conservation Symposium. This significant multidisciplinary event will feature scientific presentations and community-focused talks, showcasing research and initiatives related to conservation, environmental change, biodiversity and oceans, health, and community initiatives.
In 2022, the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) and the broader UNC & USFQ Galapagos Initiative celebrated its 10th Anniversary. The GSC hosted the World Summit on Island Sustainability on June 26–30, 2022 at the Galapagos Science Center and the Community Convention Center on San Cristobal Island.
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!