News archive for 2016

• Mangrove Finch – Predators, Parasites & Hybridisation | December 25th, 2016

  

  Predators, parasites and now hybridisation with a woodpecker species all threaten the critically endangered mangrove finch – more on this here

• Tui De Roy’s Galapagos: Preserving Darwin’s Legacy | December 20th, 2016

  

  An excellent article on the second edition of Tui’s book Galapagos: Preserving Darwin’s Legacy which includes some answers by Tui to questions put to her by  National Geographic. Tui of course is the Patron of FOGNZ

• Extraordinary Island Birds | December 8th, 2016

  
  Photo: Island Conservation

  Check out these 5 very special island birds which include the White-vented Storm Petrel which was the focus of the FOGNZ project that took place in Galapagos in 2014. Also of interest is the Antipodes Island Snipe which benefited from the mice eradication that took place on the Antipodes Island this year.

• Restoration of Islands Prevent Extinctions | November 27th, 2016

  
  Photo: Island Conservation

  Rodents and feral cats have been found to be among the worst invaders of islands preying on ground dwelling birds and other species. Removing these predators enable species such as the Pinzon Tortoise avoid extinction – find out more on this piece from Island Conservation

• Galapagos Finches Self Medicate | November 6th, 2016

  

  Galápagos Finches have been observed rubbing leaves from the Galápagos Guava on their feathers. This unprecedented behaviour has been linked to invasive mosquitoes and flies – find out more on these remarkable findings here

• Invasive Predators a Global Conservation Priority for Islands | November 6th, 2016

  
  Tommy Hall/Island Conservation

  As we here in New Zealand know invasive predators can have a devastating effect on an island’s ecology. A new study reports that island species with high evolutionary distinctiveness are most vulnerable to invasive species with 81% of species threatened by these predators. Find out more on this study here

• Galapagos Hosts World Heritage Marine Sites Conference | October 27th, 2016

  

  Guardians of the 49 World Heritage Marine sites gathered in the Galápagos Islands in August for UNESCO’s Third World Heritage Marine Managers Conference. With the many challenges that these sites face the guardians were there to share resources and find smart solutions.  Find out more here

• Red Footed Booby Far From Home | October 16th, 2016

  

  A red footed booby was found on a British beach recently – how it arrived there from Galapagos is a mystery and the juvenile needed to be nursed back to health at a bird rescue centre. Find out more about this  voyaging bird here.

• Did Diego Save His Species? | October 16th, 2016

  
  Diego Photo: Jdegenhardt/Flickr

  The giant tortoise subspecies Chelonoidis hoodensis came back from the brink after the population was down to only 14 members – 12 females, 2 males. A third male named Diego was then identified at San Diego Zoo and was credited with siring 800 offspring after being moved to  Galapagos. However one of the other males sired twice as many offspring but did not have the story or personality of the famous Diego so went mostly uncredited for his efforts. Check out this wonderful story here

• Darwin’s Finches Evolving Song Caused by Parasite | September 28th, 2016

  The parasite Philornis dowsni is devasating many species of Galapagos birds. However some finches that survive attacks by the parasite have developed new songs – find out why here

• Incredible video of orca and flying turtle | September 23rd, 2016

  This video has caused quite a bit of excited commentary – check out why here

• Charles Darwin Foundation in 25 year Cooperation Deal | September 15th, 2016

  

  The Charles Darwin Foundation has signed a 25 year agreement with the Ecuadorian Government to further scientific research and environmental conservation in Galapagos. This significant event was celebrated in Galapagos with representatives from the Government, the Foundation and UNESCO. More here

• San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher is Discovered but ……….. | September 14th, 2016

  

  San Cristóbal Vermilion Flycatcher was extinct before it had even been discovered – find out more on this puzzle here

• Parasite Philornis downsi Research Breakthrough | August 21st, 2016

  
  Credit: P. Lahuatte

  The successful rearing of maggots from the Philornis downsi fly in lab conditions has opened up the possibility of  being able to control the fly that threatens nestlings in the Galapagos islands. The larvae feed on the chicks killing them in the nest. A number of bird species are threatened by the invasive fly including the mangrove finch and and the Floreana mockingbird. Find out more on this hopeful story here

   

• Frigatebirds Sleep While Flying | August 14th, 2016

  
  Photo: Ricardo Mazalan/AP

  The curious account of how frigatebirds can fly for up to 10 days and snatch brief amounts of sleep in that time – all the fascinating information can be found in this Guardian article

• Bringing Back Extinct Giant Tortoises Species | August 9th, 2016

  

  Island Conservation tells the fascinating story of how extinct giant tortoises may live again through careful selection and breeding techniques

• Tales of Galapagos Tortoises at Auckland Zoo | July 24th, 2016

  

  Check out this story about the Giant Galapagos Tortoises that live at the Auckland Zoo

• Saving Galapagos from Rats | July 15th, 2016

  

  Gene engineering as a means of predator control is being considered by scientists worldwide including in Galapagos where it is seen as a way of controlling rats which threaten and can wipe out native wildlife populations – a short video about the concept can be seen with this link

• Why do Marine Iguanas Sneeze | July 15th, 2016

  

  Find out the story of why marine iguanas sneeze here and see some great videos of the action!

• Invasive Pets Threaten Galapagos Wildlife | June 29th, 2016

  
  Photo: Darwin Animal Doctors

  Pets such as dogs and cats are invasive species in Galapagos as they can hunt, and spread disease to, the native wildlife. This excellent article lays out the issues and also highlights the very good work that is being done by Darwin Animal Doctors to help with the problems caused by introduced animals.

• The Conundrum of Tourism | June 19th, 2016

  

  Interesting piece on the benefits and adverse effects of tourism in Galapagos with development on Floreana island home of the famed Post Office box – find out more here

• Galapagos Matters | June 14th, 2016

  Read the latest issue of Galapagos Matters with the below link

  Galapagos_Matters_SS_2016_-_LOW_RES.pdf (2.0 MiB, 780 hits)

• Submarine Diving Tracks Deep Sea Marine Life | June 11th, 2016

  

  All women team go deep sea submarine diving in Galapagos waters and get checked out by the locals – a mola mola (sunfish), hammerheads and swordfish to name a few. Find out more in this National Geographic piece

• 80 year old tortoise is mother of 9 | May 21st, 2016

  
  Photo: Zoo Zurich Samuel Furrer

  An 80 year old tortoise at the Zurich Zoo has given birth to 9 hatchlings  – Dad is just a boy at 54. The parents are part of a breeding programme run by the Zoo. Find out all about it here

• Darwin & Migratory Birds | May 21st, 2016

  
  Photo Clifford B Frith

  Not as well known as Darwin’s study of finches in the Galapagos Islands are his observations on migratory birds – check out this blog form th Oxford University Press for more on this topic

• Darwin & Wolf Marine Sanctuary Home to the Largest Known Shark Biomass | May 11th, 2016

  
  Photo Pelayo Salinas/CDF)

  A study from the Charles Darwin Foundation and the National Geographic Society reports that the shark biomass is 12.4 tons per hectare in the sanctuary and indicates a healthy marine ecosystem.

  “The islands of Darwin and Wolf are jewels in the crown of the Galápagos because of the sheer abundance of sharks and other top predators,” said Pelayo Salinas de León, the paper’s lead author and senior marine ecologist at Charles Darwin Research Station.

  Read full publication here: http://bit.ly/1NpBiFs

• Charles Darwin Foundation Videos | May 11th, 2016

  
  Photo © Javier Cotin

  Check out these great videos from the Charles Darwin Foundation on their work with saving terrestrial birds, the big effort to save the mangrove finch and marine research with birds, turtles, sharks and fisheries in the Galapagos archipelago.

  Terrestrial birds: http://bit.ly/1zNANwd

  Mangrove Finch: http://bit.ly/1Hh4yXx  |  Seabirds: http://bit.ly/1hcVVVW

• Evolving Finches – the Story Continues | May 6th, 2016

  Peter & Rosemary Grant, a decade ago, observed within a year a noticeable size decrease in the beaks of of the medium ground finch on Daphne Major Island. The change in beak size saw the smaller beaked birds survive in a severe drought and resulting food shortages while larger beaked finches did not. Find out more on this fascinating story and how 2 genes have been identified in the evolutionary process.

• Amazing Video of Marine Iguana | April 29th, 2016

  
  Steve Winkworth

  Marine iguana swimming in the ocean and feeding from the sea floor  – see the You Tube video here

• Galapagos Penguins in a Predictably Unpredictable Place | April 28th, 2016

  
  Photo D Boersma

  Galapagos penguins are the rarest and northern most dwelling penguin in the world. They are also the world’s second smallest penguin (the Little Penguin found in New Zealand is the smallest).  Check out this great article on how the new marine reserve in Galapagos will help protect the Galapagos penguin.

• Gene drives evolutionary change in Darwin’s finches | April 23rd, 2016

  
  Peter R Grant

  A single gene has been identified as bringing about changes in the beak size of finches with smaller beaked birds better able to eat tiny seeds while those with larger beaks eat the bigger seeds.  Remarkably it seems that the change has come about in a single generation – find out more here in this Newsweek article

• New Radionuclide and Infrasound Stations on Galapagos Islands | March 29th, 2016

  

  Not quite a conservation issue but interesting to this part of the world in the southern pacific is the construction of two international monitoring system stations in Galapagos. The stations will be able to detect radioactivity and sound waves from nuclear explosions. In addition data gathered at the stations will help with monitoring volcanic outbreaks, meteorological phenomena and more. For the full story click here

• New Galapagos Marine Sanctuary | March 29th, 2016

  
  Lauren C Tierney, NG Staff. Source: Ministry of the Environment, Ecuador

  Marine life protected in new sanctuary which extends over one third of the waters surrounding the Galapagos islands and has the highest abundance of sharks in the world. Read this great story here

   

• Galapagos Lakes Studied for Climate Changes over 2,000 Years | March 29th, 2016

  
  Researchers collecting samples Photo Julian Sachs/University of Washington

  University of Washington oceanographers have been able to trace El Niño patterns and seasonal tropical rains over the past 2,000 years. Tropical climate patterns have varied more radically and for longer durations than previously believed. Find out more on this piece of research here

• Sea Shepherd partners with the Ecuadorian Government for Role in Galapagos | March 21st, 2016

  

  The Government of Ecuador and Sea Shepherd have entered into a 4 year partnership to help address conservation needs in Galapagos. Find out more here including previous conservation work undertaken by Sea Shepherd in Galapagos

• Tortoises Return to the Wild after 51 Years | March 9th, 2016

  

  After 51 years in captivity 5 male Galapagos giant tortoises have been returned to their natural home on Santa Cruz island. Genetic studies over the past 10 years have proved where the tortoises originated from – this was not known when they were placed in captivity. Find out more about this uplifting story here

• Tortoise Sex | February 21st, 2016

  
  Credit: James P. Gibbs, SUNY-ESF

  The sex and social life of Galapagos tortoises – the different behaviours of saddleback and domed tortoises find out more here

• Giant Tortoise Fossils In Bolivia | February 21st, 2016

  
  Photo Darin Croft

  Fossilised relative of Galapagos giant tortoises found in one of the driest and highest plateaus in the world; indicating that the area was once far wetter and lower than it is today – found out more about this intriguing story here

• What lies beneath the Galapagos Islands | February 7th, 2016

  
  Photo: Adam Soule WHOI

  The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is undertaking the first scientific expedition of sea mounts that are part of the massive volcanic platform which the lies under the Galapagos archipelago. Find out more here

• All about Iguanas | January 31st, 2016

  
  Photo: Huffington Post

  This piece has  fascinating and intriguing information on both land and marine iguanas with some wonderful photos – check out the Huffpost blog here

• El Nino in Galapagos | January 15th, 2016

  

  Interesting and concerning update from the Galapagos Conservation Trust on how El Nino is affecting Galapagos 

  EL_NINO_UPDATE.pdf (104.0 KiB, 821 hits)

• Galapagos Tortoises in Auckland & Surreal Galapagos Opening Exhibition | January 7th, 2016

  

  Auckland Zoo’s Galapagos Tortoises have a new home with a much larger indoor area that has heated pools and is complemented by an outdoor environment with a mud pool and dry terrain to reflect a Galapagos landscape where tortoises would range. To help celebrate the opening of the new enclosure the Embassy and Consulate of Ecuador hosted an event at the Zoo on the 17 December 2015 for the opening of the Surreal Galapagos photographic exhibition. Friends of Galapagos New Zealand Auckland members attended the event along with members of the local Ecuadorian community and diplomatic corp of Auckland.

  The Surreal Galapagos exhibition is on display at the Zoo until 28  January 2016.  Members of Friends of Auckland Zoo will be in to win a trip for two to Galapagos – found out more information with this link

• Sniffer Dogs help detect wildlife crime | January 7th, 2016

  
  Photo: Sea Shepherd

  Four dogs from the Canine Centre in Holland are now in Galapagos to sniff out attempts to export wildlife including shark fin and sea cucumbers with their special abilities of a heightened sense of smell and ability to concentrate on the required task. Find out more from Sea Shepherd who initiated this project