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
Characterizing juvenile blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) nursery areas in the Galapagos: new methods and understandings
A recent study conducted on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, successfully identified nursery areas of the blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) using drones as the primary tool. This research compared the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with traditional methods such as gillnets, revealing that drones allow for significantly higher and non-invasive detection of juvenile sharks in coastal areas. Over a nine-month period, 56 drone flights were carried out across 14 sites around San Cristóbal, recording a total of 453 juvenile sharks. Four sites (Puerto Grande, La Seca, Manglecito, and Rosa Blanca) were identified as potential nursery areas, meeting established ecological criteria used to define such habitats. The results indicate that variables such as water clarity, mangrove coverage, and time of year influence the presence of juveniles, with a peak in abundance during the warm season. This finding represents a significant step forward in marine monitoring and conservation in Galápagos. The study suggests applying this methodology to other islands in the archipelago to improve the identification of essential habitats and to promote more effective protection measures. Read the article here: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15976
Mapping Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) in the Central and South American Pacific: Existing knowledge and data needs
Chondrichthyans, a class of aquatic vertebrates (sharks, rays, and chimaeras), are facing a global extinction crisis driven by overfishing, habitat degradation, climate change, and pollution. Of the approximately 1,250 species studied, more than one third (37%) are at risk of extinction according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, making this group the second most threatened among vertebrates. There is limited biological and ecological information available on chondrichthyans, which hinders the identification of critical habitats. As a response, the Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRA) approach was developed a tool designed to map essential areas for the life cycle processes of these species.
Assessment of feeding patterns of the mottled scorpionfish (Pontinus clemensi) in the Galápagos Marine Reserve
The Spotted Scorpionfish (Pontinus clemensi) is a species of high economic, ecological, and cultural value in the Galápagos Islands. In recent years, it has gained relevance in the artisanal fisheries of the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR) due to the overexploitation of traditional species such as bacalao (Mycteroperca olfax) and camotillo (Paralabrax albomaculatus). As a result, its presence in local markets and its consumption within the community have increased. Additionally, it is one of the main prey items in the diet of the Galápagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki), underscoring its importance in ecosystem dynamics. However, there is limited information about its trophic ecology. Understanding its diet is essential for evaluating its ecological role and for developing sustainable fishery management strategies.
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.
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.
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