The Galapagos Islands are located 727 miles straight west of the country of Ecuador. They were discovered accidentally by Tomas de Berlanga, the first Bishop of Panama. He drifted off course and ended up there while travelling from Panama to Peru. He was not overly impressed with what he found due to the lack of fresh water and their inability to sustain their stay. There was not much interest in the Islands for many years, until, however, Charles Darwin found the “Mystery of Mysteries,” the origin of species. The 13 islands that make up the Galapagos are known for their unique geographic isolation, exceptional habitats, rare species, and great diversity. (CITATIONS) http://www.mnh.si.edu/expeditions/galapagos/Research.htm Because the
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These two species are perhaps some of the most unique because they are from sub-artic and sub-antarctic ancestors, but live in the tropics. They survive in this environment by their reliance on cool waters brought by ocean currents and using the shade of the lava rocks to avoid the heat. The affects of climate change could be devastating or promising to both the penguin and fur seal populations because the climate change can cause a shift in wind and ocean currents that may bring in or push away the nutrient-rich, cold waters needed for their …show more content…
They did not have to adapt to this environment like most life on the islands because their comfort zone is on the quiet, barren coasts. The mangroves seem isolated from the outside, but inside many forms of life find shelter. The entire ecological niche is filled with sea lions lazing on branches and turtles resting on the bottom and mangrove finches flying amongst the leaves. All seems normal with the mangroves of the Galapagos until the tectonic uplift, in response to magma moving underneath the surface, comes into play causing mangroves to dry up and die. The tectonic uplift shows how the Galapagos are so diverse that volcanic ? causes mangrove forests, which would usually not be near volcanoes, to
These two species are perhaps some of the most unique because they are from sub-artic and sub-antarctic ancestors, but live in the tropics. They survive in this environment by their reliance on cool waters brought by ocean currents and using the shade of the lava rocks to avoid the heat. The affects of climate change could be devastating or promising to both the penguin and fur seal populations because the climate change can cause a shift in wind and ocean currents that may bring in or push away the nutrient-rich, cold waters needed for their …show more content…
They did not have to adapt to this environment like most life on the islands because their comfort zone is on the quiet, barren coasts. The mangroves seem isolated from the outside, but inside many forms of life find shelter. The entire ecological niche is filled with sea lions lazing on branches and turtles resting on the bottom and mangrove finches flying amongst the leaves. All seems normal with the mangroves of the Galapagos until the tectonic uplift, in response to magma moving underneath the surface, comes into play causing mangroves to dry up and die. The tectonic uplift shows how the Galapagos are so diverse that volcanic ? causes mangrove forests, which would usually not be near volcanoes, to