Geography 5 Final Project

Map of the Galapagos Islands

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0018835

The Ecosystem: Present Day

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http://www.galapagos.org/gallery/

The Ecosystem: Historic

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-this-Day--Darwin-s-HMS-Beagle-Reaches-Galapagos-Islands.html  

The Historic State of the Ecosystem

The Galapagos Islands were formed through volcanic activity, which caused the formation of steep slopes and mountains. Because of their location on the equator and between the cool Cromwell and Humboldt currents, the resulting ecosystem is both tropical and temperate. All the native species that now exist on the islands originally had to come through some form of long-distance dispersal—either by sea or by wind. The main plants were either coastal plants, such as mangroves and saltbushes (which came by sea), or small primary succession plants, such as lichens, mosses, and ferns (which came by wind or were carried by animals). Due to the lack of pollinators, flowery plants were rare, and due to the heavy weight of their seeds, vascular plants were uncommon. As for animals, birds and reptiles were the most common, as they could either swim or fly to the islands after they were formed. Because they evolved in isolation once in the Galapagos, many of these species developed quite drastic adaptations, such as the beaks of the famous Darwin finches. The high level of isolation also caused a substantial amount of biodiversity and a large rate of endemism.

Current Human Impacts on the Ecosystem

The Galapagos Islands population has increased more than 300 percent within the last few decades and has posed a threat to the conservation of the islands. An increase in population increases the competition of fishing between local fishermen, the Galapagos National Park Service, and conservation workers, which has caused tension, especially because only 3 percent of the island is sectioned off for human habitat. As a result, fish have become endangered because of the overfishing. In addition, a larger population generates more trash that is not being exposed of properly. Garbage is being dumped in open-air sites and burned rather than treated and sorted for recyclable materials. There are protective measures in place for the ecosystem; however, in order for those rules to be effective, the people who live their need to follow them.

As tourism began to make way into the Galapagos, the park officials have reported a noticeable decrease in flora, expansion of trails into protected areas, and an increase in waste material that is not disposed of properly. However, the Galapagos has put a big emphasis on the preservation of the island, warning its visitors that once ruined it cannot be replaced. The Galapagos has marketed “ecotourism” in hopes to attract tourist who are respectful to the environment.     

Future Prospects

Based on the many efforts by the various Galapagos Conservation groups, the future of the Galapagos ecosystem seems positive. In 2007, the islands were put on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger, but after efforts by the public and private sector, it was removed from this list in 2010. People are working to eradicate the problem of invasive species through various measures such as sterilization, stronger regulations, and other strategies of biological control. Some other problems, mainly population growth and climate change, are harder to mitigate, but conservationists are working to develop strategies to combat these problems. One of the biggest challenges is controlling the effects of tourism, and it will take many more years to minimize the pressures that this industry places on the ecosystem. On a more positive note, hunting and illegal fishing has, for the most part, been stopped, which greatly benefits the wildlife of the area. In summary, there are still environmental issues in the Galapagos, but significant efforts by conservation groups have greatly reduced and will continue to reduce these problems.

Improving the Human Impact

There is a lot of beneficial conservation work currently being done in the Galapagos Islands. In order to improve upon the work that is already taking place, the biggest factor that conservationists need to control is tourism. With so many people coming on and off the islands everyday, it is quite difficult for the ecosystem to remain stable. By keeping tight regulations and minimizing the effects of humans, the Galapagos will remain a thriving and diverse ecosystem. It is also important to continue protecting the vast number of endemic and endangered species that live on the islands. This includes preventing the introduction of non-native species and stopping the growth of invasive species populations that already reside on the islands. Teaching people about the different species and putting safety measures in place are two ways that this can be achieved. Finally, more research on climate change and natural resources will help develop more ideas for preserving the unique nature of the Galapagos Islands.

Data Table of Impact on Native Species

	Endangered	Extinct	Unconcerned
Vertebrate Species	16%	12%	46%
Plant Species	27%	2%	32%
Marine Species	19%	0%	38%

Data Table of Money Spent by the Galapagos Conservancy

Expenses	2013	2014
Ecosystem Restoration	$357,642	$299,367
Sustainable Society	$270,214	$223,888
Galapagos National Park	$100,000	$126,910
Charles Darwin Foundation	$735,979	$530,526
Partnerships	$0	$95,941
Program Costs	$458,396	$713,853
Total Money Spent	$1,922,231	$1,990,485

Sources

"Challenges Facing the Galapagos Islands." Galapagos Islands Travel & Tours. International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, 2014. Web. 02 Dec. 2014. <http://www.igtoa.org/travel_guide/challenges#tourism>.

"Environmental Issues of the Galapagos." Environmental Issues. Galapagos Conservation Trust, 2014. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. <http://www.galapagosislands.com/galapagos-conservation/galapagos-enviroment.html>.

"Galapagos Conservancy." Galapagos Conservancy. Galapagos Conservancy, 2014. Web. 02 Dec. 2014. <http://www.galapagos.org/>.

Academic Source
Taylor, J. E., George A. Dyer, Micki Stewart, Antonio Yunez-Naude, and Sergio Ardila. "The Economics of Ecotourism: A Galápagos Islands Economy‐Wide Perspective." Economic Development and Cultural Change 51.4 (2003): n. pag. JSTOR. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.