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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