Species Arrival to the Galapagos
Since the Galapagos Islands were volcanic formations that occurred underwater and sprouted out all species and plant forms have somehow made it to the Galapagos and established life in the unique tropical climate. The two main ways that species arrived at the islands were through the air and by sea. When analyzing ways that species arrived to the island through the air many believe that the wind played a major role. The Galapagos plant forms are mostly small seeded plants such as ferns, mosses, and lichens. It is thought that these seeds were blown to the islands from the mainland through the wind. It is even thought that some small insects could have made it through the wind. Within the island there are not many flowering insect pollinated plants as there are no real pollinating bugs that inhabit the area. However, many of the pants that inhabit the island are wind pollinated. The other way species made it to the islands through the air is transport from another species, for example many of the birds that arrived on the island many have been carrying smaller insects and even plant seeds as well. Birds land birds such as the finches were thought to be aided by the wind as well in their travels. Since a small number of these birds made it to the islands speciation happened quickly, the many species of finches now known to the islands as Darwin’s finches are thought to have stemmed from one species of finch that arrived due to adaptations and evolution to best fit the surrounding environments.
The other method of species arrival that has been analyzed by researchers is through the sea. It has been thought that many animals such as the turtles, sea lions and penguins arrived at the island through swimming with the help of some ocean currents. However other species such as the reptiles were thought to have made it to the island through vegetation rafts. Within the Galapagos there are no amphibians and very few mammals, this is because there was no real way for these species to successfully make it to the islands. The reptiles are tolerant to salty sea conditions and long exposure hours to the sun while at sea for land periods of time.
It blows my mind how these islands essentially sprouted out of Earth’s core and then through wind and ocean currents they became one of the most biologically diverse and most studied areas in the entire world. The thought of reptiles going weeks on rafts made of vegetation make me wonder as well, could the marine iguanas have formed through this process? A possible adaptation that happened because of some of the rafts sinking and a survival mechanism was brought into play. Anything could happen.
The other method of species arrival that has been analyzed by researchers is through the sea. It has been thought that many animals such as the turtles, sea lions and penguins arrived at the island through swimming with the help of some ocean currents. However other species such as the reptiles were thought to have made it to the island through vegetation rafts. Within the Galapagos there are no amphibians and very few mammals, this is because there was no real way for these species to successfully make it to the islands. The reptiles are tolerant to salty sea conditions and long exposure hours to the sun while at sea for land periods of time.
It blows my mind how these islands essentially sprouted out of Earth’s core and then through wind and ocean currents they became one of the most biologically diverse and most studied areas in the entire world. The thought of reptiles going weeks on rafts made of vegetation make me wonder as well, could the marine iguanas have formed through this process? A possible adaptation that happened because of some of the rafts sinking and a survival mechanism was brought into play. Anything could happen.
Galapagos Biodiversity
The Galapagos is home to the most endemic species in one particular area on the face of the Earth, about 80% of land birds, 97% of reptiles and more than 30% of plants are endemic which means that they can only be found in this particular region. One may wonder how this happens if all the species have come from somewhere meaning that they would not be endemic as they exist in their area of orgin as well as the islands. However, in most cases the species that arrive to the island experience evolution and adaptations to better thrive and live in the environments that they now call their new homes. Through this evolution and adaptation processes new species are formed which are specific to the ecosystems that they inhabit. The Galapagos ecosystems are like no other in the world which explains why there is such a high level of endemic species that inhabit the islands.
One of the most unique species that inhabit the Galapagos is the Marine Iguana. These reptiles spend most of their time on land however when they are hungry they feed in the water. These iguanas typically search for aquatic vegetation such as algae that grows on rocks to feed on, they have adapted to fit their food preference in the sense that they have a short blunt nose as well as a glad that is connected to their nostrils that filters out any excess salt that they consume. These iguanas have also been known to eat crustaceans as well as grasshoppers. These Iguanas are great swimmers due to their flat tail that propels them through the water while their legs lay limp on the sides. While these iguanas show the ability to thrive in their environment as shown by the complex adaptations that they have adopted, they also face challenges. In El Nino years the iguanas have been seen feeding on terrestrial vegetation due to the lack of nutritional algae available to them. Additionally, while there are not many predators that are out to get them in the sea, on land they are the prey of several birds such as hawks, herons, and various other birds. I feel that the Marine Iguana is one of the most interesting species of the Galapagos as I shows the most signs of evolution to adapt to its surrounding environment. These iguanas are one of the endemic species that were mentioned above and personally I think they are one of the coolest
One of the most unique species that inhabit the Galapagos is the Marine Iguana. These reptiles spend most of their time on land however when they are hungry they feed in the water. These iguanas typically search for aquatic vegetation such as algae that grows on rocks to feed on, they have adapted to fit their food preference in the sense that they have a short blunt nose as well as a glad that is connected to their nostrils that filters out any excess salt that they consume. These iguanas have also been known to eat crustaceans as well as grasshoppers. These Iguanas are great swimmers due to their flat tail that propels them through the water while their legs lay limp on the sides. While these iguanas show the ability to thrive in their environment as shown by the complex adaptations that they have adopted, they also face challenges. In El Nino years the iguanas have been seen feeding on terrestrial vegetation due to the lack of nutritional algae available to them. Additionally, while there are not many predators that are out to get them in the sea, on land they are the prey of several birds such as hawks, herons, and various other birds. I feel that the Marine Iguana is one of the most interesting species of the Galapagos as I shows the most signs of evolution to adapt to its surrounding environment. These iguanas are one of the endemic species that were mentioned above and personally I think they are one of the coolest
Mangroves
Mangrove forest are one of the most unknown and underappreciated areas in all of the world. These areas are adapted to saline intertidal zones, and are seen as one of the most protective and bio diverse intertidal Areas on earth. These forest account for around 15 million hectares of land throughout planet Earth.
Mangrove forest primarily serve as a buffer from storms in coastal regions. Along with serving as a storm buffer the mangrove forest also provide a biologically diverse ecosystem for various species that are adapted to living in the harsh saline conditions. These forests experience tidal flooding twice a day in which the trunks of the trees are partially submerged for hours in the day. However when the tide lowers the unique roots of these trees are exposed. The roots of the mangrove trees grove above the mud so that when they are exposed to the air they dry up very quickly. These trees have developed the adaptation to excrete 90 percent of the salt that is absorbed through this process. They also contain cells in their leaves that allow them to develop slat crystals which then fall off and are distributed back into the ocean. The leaves also have the ability to retain water for long amounts of time to prevent evapotranspiration which allows for the longevity of these forest to increase. The mangroves and coral reefs share a symbiotic relationship in that the mud of the mangroves absorb harmful nutrients that allow the surrounding reefs to survive and with the survival of the reefs the reefs act as a strong storm buffer for the mangroves. So essentially to coastal regions that have mangroves are protected by two ecosystems when it comes to storms. Without these ecosystems many coastal communities would be lost and devastated. Not only coastal communities but also aquatic and terrestrial communities. Mangroves serve as protection and a habitat for many juvenile fish along with various terrestrial species such as tigers and deer.
As stated before mangroves are an intrgral part to the everyday lives of millions of people in coastal communities, in terms of fish, and other resources. However, over the years the overall area of mangrove forest has rapidly been depleted due to human interaction. With amount of destruction to these ecosystems that has been inflicted attention over the issue has been raise. Presently there are more regulations and enforcement of regulations in these areas as well as widespread restoration efforts. Typically, mangrove forest tree seeds germinate while connected to the tree and then drop off into the mud or float around until they are deposited into the mud. With the destruction of these ecosystems these kinds of processes do no happen as often as they once did. Coastal communities are recognizing this rising concern and are plant large amounts of saplings to try to restore the crucial part of the coastal ecosystem. Mangroves thrived and then took a dip and now are rising back to the level that they once were at which maximizes the overall production of these areas. Mangroves are the guardian of the sea and coastal communities and We would like to keep it that way for many years to
Mangrove forest primarily serve as a buffer from storms in coastal regions. Along with serving as a storm buffer the mangrove forest also provide a biologically diverse ecosystem for various species that are adapted to living in the harsh saline conditions. These forests experience tidal flooding twice a day in which the trunks of the trees are partially submerged for hours in the day. However when the tide lowers the unique roots of these trees are exposed. The roots of the mangrove trees grove above the mud so that when they are exposed to the air they dry up very quickly. These trees have developed the adaptation to excrete 90 percent of the salt that is absorbed through this process. They also contain cells in their leaves that allow them to develop slat crystals which then fall off and are distributed back into the ocean. The leaves also have the ability to retain water for long amounts of time to prevent evapotranspiration which allows for the longevity of these forest to increase. The mangroves and coral reefs share a symbiotic relationship in that the mud of the mangroves absorb harmful nutrients that allow the surrounding reefs to survive and with the survival of the reefs the reefs act as a strong storm buffer for the mangroves. So essentially to coastal regions that have mangroves are protected by two ecosystems when it comes to storms. Without these ecosystems many coastal communities would be lost and devastated. Not only coastal communities but also aquatic and terrestrial communities. Mangroves serve as protection and a habitat for many juvenile fish along with various terrestrial species such as tigers and deer.
As stated before mangroves are an intrgral part to the everyday lives of millions of people in coastal communities, in terms of fish, and other resources. However, over the years the overall area of mangrove forest has rapidly been depleted due to human interaction. With amount of destruction to these ecosystems that has been inflicted attention over the issue has been raise. Presently there are more regulations and enforcement of regulations in these areas as well as widespread restoration efforts. Typically, mangrove forest tree seeds germinate while connected to the tree and then drop off into the mud or float around until they are deposited into the mud. With the destruction of these ecosystems these kinds of processes do no happen as often as they once did. Coastal communities are recognizing this rising concern and are plant large amounts of saplings to try to restore the crucial part of the coastal ecosystem. Mangroves thrived and then took a dip and now are rising back to the level that they once were at which maximizes the overall production of these areas. Mangroves are the guardian of the sea and coastal communities and We would like to keep it that way for many years to
Geology of the Galapagos
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The Galapagos are a group of islands that have been formed due to volcanic activity known as a mantle plume. These “plumes” are a result of very hot rock that is slowly rising from the Earths depths due to it being hotter and less dense than the surrounding rock. This extremely hot rock moves up to the surface at a 10 cm/year rate. Relatively in terms of a human life time these rocks really aren’t making an substantial movement however when you look at the bigger picture over thousands and millions of years those 10 cm/year rates add up and the result is an island formation such as the islands within the Archipelago of the Galapagos. It is thought that the plumes form at the base of the Earth’s mantle where D-double prime rock is heated by the Earth’s core. The reason scientist believe that the rock comes from this depth is that it has been shown that the plumes remain in the same spot over time and do not move with lithospheric motion. As shown in the sense that the islands of the Galapagos do not move over time with the speed of the lithospheric plate motion above the origin of the plumes.
The Mid Ocean Ridge, the Galapagos Spreading Center occurs just North of the islands. These ridges are located at areas of movement of lithospheric plates in opposite directions. When this happens above the plumes it causes volcanic activity which results in the island formation like the Galapagos as well as the State of Hawaii. The Galapagos spreading center happens along the Cocos and Nazca Plates. The Galapagos specifically are located below the Nazca plate which moves east-southeast. Like the Hawaiian Island the Galapagos islands get older to the south south-east, however, the Galapagos Plumes have not produced as simple linear chain. An interesting part of all of this is that the ridge was formed over 5 million years ago when the Galapagos Spreading Center was actually located directly above the Galapagos mantle plume instead of being just north of it. The chain of volcanos were formed and then over time the Galapagos spreading center migrated north.
There are two distinct types of Volcanos in the Galapagos, one variation that is referred to as “the inverted soup bowl” occurs in the west such as on the island of Isabella and Fernandina. While in the eat there are smaller “shield volcanos which do not have as steep of a slope. These two different kinds of volcanos occur due to differences in lithospheric thickness. West of the fracture zone, located in the middle of the archipelago region, the lithosphere is older and thicker and is able to support large volcanos such as the inverted soup bowl type volcanos. Whereas east of the fracture zone the lithosphere is younger and weaker and cannot support volcanos the magnitude or size of the formations in the west.
To be completely honest geology is not my strong suit and I do not have a very rich background in it (actually 0 background) however from what I comprehended I feel that I have a much better understanding of the processes that ultimately lead to the formation of the Islands. While I may not have comprehended the information completely accurately I understood enough to get a clear understanding of how the Galapagos came to be. It only adds to the uniqueness of the Archipelago and, in fact, is very intriguing. On the surface, as a person that does not have a science background I did not think of the Galapagos as a volcanic formation, but rather just simply as an island. I now have a much greater understanding and base knowledge that through my studies leading up to the trip I can expand on in oder to gain an even more complex understanding of the geology of the Galapagos Islands.
The Mid Ocean Ridge, the Galapagos Spreading Center occurs just North of the islands. These ridges are located at areas of movement of lithospheric plates in opposite directions. When this happens above the plumes it causes volcanic activity which results in the island formation like the Galapagos as well as the State of Hawaii. The Galapagos spreading center happens along the Cocos and Nazca Plates. The Galapagos specifically are located below the Nazca plate which moves east-southeast. Like the Hawaiian Island the Galapagos islands get older to the south south-east, however, the Galapagos Plumes have not produced as simple linear chain. An interesting part of all of this is that the ridge was formed over 5 million years ago when the Galapagos Spreading Center was actually located directly above the Galapagos mantle plume instead of being just north of it. The chain of volcanos were formed and then over time the Galapagos spreading center migrated north.
There are two distinct types of Volcanos in the Galapagos, one variation that is referred to as “the inverted soup bowl” occurs in the west such as on the island of Isabella and Fernandina. While in the eat there are smaller “shield volcanos which do not have as steep of a slope. These two different kinds of volcanos occur due to differences in lithospheric thickness. West of the fracture zone, located in the middle of the archipelago region, the lithosphere is older and thicker and is able to support large volcanos such as the inverted soup bowl type volcanos. Whereas east of the fracture zone the lithosphere is younger and weaker and cannot support volcanos the magnitude or size of the formations in the west.
To be completely honest geology is not my strong suit and I do not have a very rich background in it (actually 0 background) however from what I comprehended I feel that I have a much better understanding of the processes that ultimately lead to the formation of the Islands. While I may not have comprehended the information completely accurately I understood enough to get a clear understanding of how the Galapagos came to be. It only adds to the uniqueness of the Archipelago and, in fact, is very intriguing. On the surface, as a person that does not have a science background I did not think of the Galapagos as a volcanic formation, but rather just simply as an island. I now have a much greater understanding and base knowledge that through my studies leading up to the trip I can expand on in oder to gain an even more complex understanding of the geology of the Galapagos Islands.