The Galapagos Islands

An Island of Controversy

The Islands

The Islands

• ~5 million years old

• Tops of volcanos projected up from ocean floor due to tectonic plate movement

• Archipelago has existed for as long as 20 million years– Eroded ancient volcanoes

exist below the waves

Darwin

• Keenly interested in how islands were colonized & why organisms were so unique, but still similar to mainland organisms

• Performed experiments to see how plants could have colonized the islands & hypothesized how animals could have arrived.

Modern Research• Peter and Rosemary Grant– Most detailed studies of species

formation in evolution (20+ years)

– Focus: Galapagos Finches• Intense competition appears to

make finches more distinct through time• Two closely related species will

tend to specialize on different foods & become more distinct

Islands in Conflict• Scientists and Conservationists wish to

keep the islands pristine & pure for future generations & further scientific study

• Some local inhabitants want to exploit natural resources for economic gain & survival of families

• Sea Cucumber Crisis – 1994/95– Local fishermen held scientists & their

families hostage for three days at the Charles Darwin Research Station