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Galapagos

Exploring stress and morphology in two songbird species across urban, agricultural, and natural habitats on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos

Publications

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.

Exploring stress and morphology in two songbird species across urban, agricultural, and natural habitats on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos Read More »

Explorando el estrés y la morfología en dos especies de aves cantoras en hábitats urbanos, agrícolas y naturales de la Isla San Cristóbal, Galápagos

Publicaciones

En este estudio se analizó cómo los cambios en el uso del suelo afectan a dos especies de aves de Galápagos: el pinzón terrestre pequeño (Geospiza fuliginosa) y el canario maría (Setophaga petechia aureola). El objetivo fue comprender si las alteraciones en el hábitat, causadas por la urbanización y la agricultura en islas pobladas por humanos, influyen en su tamaño, peso y niveles de la hormona denominada corticosterona, que está relacionada con el estrés.

Explorando el estrés y la morfología en dos especies de aves cantoras en hábitats urbanos, agrícolas y naturales de la Isla San Cristóbal, Galápagos Read More »

Evaluación de salud del piquero de patas azules (Sula nebouxii excisa) a través de hematología, bioquímica, gases sanguíneos y examen físico en las Islas Galápagos

Publicaciones

El piquero de patas azules (Sula nebouxii excisa) es una especie emblemática y endémica de las Islas Galápagos. Aunque ha sido ampliamente estudiado por su comportamiento y biología reproductiva, poco se conoce sobre su salud en estado silvestre. Este tipo de información es crucial para entender cómo factores ambientales pueden afectar su bienestar, especialmente en un contexto de cambio climático y disminución de presas. El reciente estudio busca aportar datos de referencia sobre la salud de la especie, lo cual puede contribuir a estrategias de conservación.

Evaluación de salud del piquero de patas azules (Sula nebouxii excisa) a través de hematología, bioquímica, gases sanguíneos y examen físico en las Islas Galápagos Read More »

Connecting the Community with Nature: A Galápagos conservation program celebrates the successful completion of its sixth phase

News

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.

Connecting the Community with Nature: A Galápagos conservation program celebrates the successful completion of its sixth phase Read More »

Changes in marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) heart rates suggest reduced metabolism during El Niño events

Publications

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.

Changes in marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) heart rates suggest reduced metabolism during El Niño events Read More »

Cambios en la frecuencia cardíaca de la iguana marina (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) sugieren una reducción del metabolismo durante los eventos de El Niño

Publicaciones

Las iguanas marinas de Galápagos (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) tienen la capacidad de reducir su ritmo cardíaco para ahorrar energía en su cuerpo, una adaptación adquirida para enfrentar el evento climático de El Niño. Durante estos períodos, el aumento de la temperatura del océano provoca la disminución de algas, su principal fuente de alimento, lo que representa un riesgo para la supervivencia del único lagarto marino del mundo.

Cambios en la frecuencia cardíaca de la iguana marina (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) sugieren una reducción del metabolismo durante los eventos de El Niño Read More »

Scientific expedition studies several megafauna species in Galápagos

News

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.

Scientific expedition studies several megafauna species in Galápagos Read More »

Expedición científica estudia varias especies de megafauna en Galápagos

Noticias

La Dirección del Parque Nacional Galápagos (DPNG), en colaboración con la Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), el Galapagos Science Center (GSC) y Proyecto Mantas Ecuador (PME), llevó a cabo una expedición científica en el Sur y Este de la Isla Isabela. Con el respaldo de Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Georgia Aquarium y Ocean Tracking Network, la investigación permitió levantar información para al menos cuatro proyectos de investigación.

Expedición científica estudia varias especies de megafauna en Galápagos Read More »

Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Opportunistic Predation Events on Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

Publications

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.

Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Opportunistic Predation Events on Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Read More »

Eventos de depredación eventual de la orca (Orcinus orca) sobre el tiburón ballena (Rhincodon typus) en el Pacífico Tropical Oriental

Publicaciones

Las orcas (Orcinus orca) son reconocidas como uno de los depredadores más versátiles del océano, pero su comportamiento en aguas tropicales continúa siendo un misterio. Este estudio documenta, por primera vez, ataques de orcas a tiburones ballena (Rhincodon typus) en Ecuador y Panamá, proporcionando información relevante sobre sus estrategias de caza en el Pacífico Oriental Tropical (ETP). Comprender estos eventos es fundamental para ampliar el conocimiento sobre la dinámica de este depredador en la región.

Eventos de depredación eventual de la orca (Orcinus orca) sobre el tiburón ballena (Rhincodon typus) en el Pacífico Tropical Oriental Read More »

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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.

The Galapagos Science Center on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos

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!