NEWS & EVENTS
LATEST NEWS
Connecting the Community with Nature: A Galápagos conservation program celebrates the successful completion of its sixth phase
With the goal of raising environmental awareness and promoting the conservation of the archipelago’s natural resources, the Galapagos Science Center (GSC) and the Galapagos Conservation Trust have been running the “Connecting with Nature Program” (CWNP) since 2019. This initiative has reached over 9,100 community members on San Cristóbal Island, through recreational and educational activities tailored to children, youth, and adults.
Scientific expedition studies several megafauna species in Galápagos
The Galápagos National Park Directorate (GNPD), in collaboration with Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), the Galapagos Science Center (GSC), and Proyecto Mantas Ecuador (PME), conducted a scientific expedition in the southern and eastern regions of Isabela Island. Supported by Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Georgia Aquarium, and the Ocean Tracking Network, the expedition provided valuable data for at least four research projects.
A Decade of ISLAVET: Science in action for the conservation of Galápagos
The ISLAVET program successfully concluded its tenth edition, solidifying its role as a key initiative for science and conservation in the archipelago. This year, a team of 33 participants, including 23 veterinary students and 10 veterinarians from the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the USFQ School of Veterinary Medicine, took part in field research under the leadership of Juan Pablo Muñoz, Diana Deresienski, Gregory Lewbart, and Daniela Alarcón from the Galapagos Science Center (GSC).
USFQ and INSPI sign an agreement to strengthen scientific research and academic training
Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and the National Institute of Public Health Research (INSPI) ‘Dr. Leopoldo Izquieta Pérez,’ an institution under the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), have signed an inter-institutional cooperation agreement to strengthen scientific research and academic training in public health and wildlife conservation in Ecuador.
SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES
Exploring stress and morphology in two songbird species across urban, agricultural, and natural habitats on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos
This study analyzed how land use changes affect two bird species in the Galápagos: the small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) and the yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia aureola). The goal was to understand whether habitat alterations, caused by urbanization and agriculture on human-populated islands, affect their size, weight, and levels of the hormone corticosterone, which is linked to stress.
Health assessment of blue-footed boobies (Sula nebouxii excisa) determined by hematology, biochemistry, blood gases, and physical examination in the galápagos islands
The blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii excisa) is an iconic and endemic species of the Galápagos Islands. While its behavior and reproductive biology have been widely studied, little is known about its health in the wild. This type of information is essential to understand how environmental factors may impact its well-being, especially in the context of climate change and declining prey availability. The recent study aims to provide baseline health data that can support conservation strategies.
Changes in marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) heart rates suggest reduced metabolism during El Niño events
The marine iguanas of Galápagos (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) have the ability to lower their heart rate to conserve energy—an adaptation developed to cope with El Niño events. During these periods, warmer ocean temperatures reduce algae, their main food source, threatening the survival of the world’s only marine lizard.
Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Opportunistic Predation Events on Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are known as one of the ocean’s most versatile predators, yet their behavior in tropical waters remains a mystery. This study documents, for the first time, orca attacks on whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in Ecuador and Panama, providing valuable insights into their hunting strategies in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). Understanding these events is key to expanding knowledge about this predator’s dynamics in the region.
EVENTS
6TH GALAPAGOS RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM
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.
5TH GALAPAGOS RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM
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.
World Summit on Island Sustainability
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.
ConCiencia
MAGAZINE
2024 Edition
2023 Edition
2022 Edition
2019 Edition
Read our Epub Magazine 2024 Edition
Read our Epub Magazine 2023 Edition
Read our Epub Magazine 2022 Edition
Epub Apps available:
