DOCSLIB.ORG

The Case of the Floreana Galápagos Giant Tortoise Chelonoidis 2 Elephantopus 3 4 Joshua M

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Case of the Floreana Galápagos Giant Tortoise Chelonoidis 2 Elephantopus 3 4 Joshua M bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/143131; this version posted May 27, 2017. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. 1 Reviving a Lost Species: The Case of the Floreana Galápagos Giant Tortoise Chelonoidis 2 elephantopus 3 4 Joshua M. Miller1†*, Maud C. Quinzin1†, Nikos Poulakakis2,3, James P. Gibbs4, Luciano B. 5 Beheregaray5, Ryan C. Garrick6, Michael A. Russello7, Claudio Ciofi8, Danielle L. Edwards9, 6 Elizabeth A. Hunter10, Washington Tapia11,12, Danny Rueda12, Jorge Carrión12, Andrés A. 7 Valdivieso1, Adalgisa Caccone1* 8 9 1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, 21 Sachem St. New 10 Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States of America 11 2. Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, 12 Vasilika Vouton, Gr-71300, Heraklio, Crete, Greece 13 3. Natural History Museum of Crete, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of 14 Crete, Knossos Av., GR-71409, Heraklio, Crete, Greece 15 4. College of Environmental Science & Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, 16 New York, 13210, United States of America 17 5. Molecular Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO 18 Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia 19 6. Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi, 38677, United 20 States of America 21 7. Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, 22 BC V1V 1V7, Canada 23 8. Department Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy 24 9. Life and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Merced, 5200 N Lake Rd, 25 Merced, California, 95343, United States of America 26 10. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada – 27 Reno, Max Fleischmann Agricultural Building, Reno NV 89557 USA 28 11. Galapagos Conservancy, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030, United States of America 29 12. Galápagos National Park Directorate, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador 30 *Corresponding authors: [email protected], [email protected] 31 †These authors contributed equally to this work 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/143131; this version posted May 27, 2017. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. 32 Abstract 33 Species are being lost at an unprecedented rate due to human-driven environmental changes. The 34 cases in which species declared extinct can be revived are extremely rare. However, here we 35 report that a remote volcano in the Galápagos Islands hosts many giant tortoises with extremely 36 high ancestry from a species previously declared as extinct: Chelonoidis elephantopus or the 37 Floreana tortoise. Of 150 individuals with distinctive morphology sampled from the volcano, 38 genetic analyses revealed that 65 had C. elephantopus ancestry Thirty-two were translocated 39 from the volcano’s slopes to a captive breeding center. A genetically informed captive breeding 40 program now being initiated will, over the next decades, return C. elephantopus tortoises to 41 Floreana Island to serve as engineers of the island’s ecosystems. Ironically, it was the haphazard 42 translocations by mariners killing tortoises for food centuries ago that created the unique 43 opportunity to revive this “lost” species today. 44 45 Introduction 46 Human activities have generated an extreme and rapid loss of biodiversity1. Many actions 47 have been undertaken to prevent species extinctions, including creating laws to protect 48 endangered species and critical habitats2, translocations of individuals among populations or into 49 new habitats3,4, and ex situ management including captive breeding5. For many species, such 50 actions come too late to facilitate recovery6–8. Although ‘de-extinction’ using laboratory 51 techniques is currently being debated9, such methods are viable only for some taxa and will 52 generate significant anticipated, and unanticipated, risks10,11. Generally, extinction is final and 53 cases where lost species can be revived will be extremely rare. 54 Despite their insularity, even remote oceanic islands are not exempt from rapid 55 anthropogenic changes. For example, the ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands, located ~900 56 kilometers off the Pacific coast of Ecuador, have been degraded by human activities since the 57 archipelago was discovered in 1535. The resulting loss of biodiversity, including many endemic 58 species, has been chiefly due to the introduction of non-native species12,13. In response, concerted 59 efforts have been taken to restore ecosystems on the islands, including removal of introduced 60 pests14,15 and population restoration via captive breeding and repatriation of threatened native 61 species (e.g. 16,17). 2 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/143131; this version posted May 27, 2017. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. 62 Galápagos giant tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.) are flagship species for ongoing restoration 63 efforts18 in this archipelago and play an important functional role as mega-herbivores in the 64 islands’ ecosystems19. Galápagos giant tortoises can be classified into 15 species based on 65 genetic data20. Generally, there is a single species per island with two exceptions: Isabela Island 66 that has a different endemic species associated with each of its five volcanoes, and Santa Cruz 67 Island that contains two species, one recently described20 (Figure 1a). The 15 species exhibit two 68 general carapace shapes: "domed," a rounded cupola-like form (Figure 1c), and a "saddle- 69 backed" form, with a high anterior opening creating the shape of a saddle (Figure 1d). Five of the 70 15 species have the saddle-backed morphology: C. elephantopus (Floreana), C. hoodensis 71 (Española), C. abingdoni (Pinta), C. ephippium (Pinzón), and C. chathamensis (San Cristóbal; 72 Figure 1a). 73 Over the past three centuries, all giant tortoise populations experienced a ~90% decline21, 74 having been killed mostly for food and oil by whalers, sealers, buccaneers, and early 75 colonists22,23. Four species have been declared Extinct24, including two of the five saddle-backed 76 species: C. elephantopus from Floreana Island and, most recently, C. abingdoni, from Pinta 77 Island. The latter species was represented by a single individual, Lonesome George, until his 78 death in 2012. 79 Surprisingly, recent research found living, wild tortoises with genetic ancestry from two 80 of the extinct saddle-backed species, C. elephantopus and C. abingdoni (hereafter referred to as 81 the Floreana and Pinta tortoises, respectively) outside their native range25–28. These individuals, 82 likely the descendants of tortoises translocated among islands by mariners22,23,29, were discovered 83 on the remote Volcano Wolf on Isabela Island (Figure 1a,b). Among >1600 tortoises sampled 84 from Volcano Wolf in 2008 during an exploratory expedition, 105 individuals were admixed 85 between the locally endemic species, C. becki, and the Floreana (n = 86)5 or Pinta (n = 17)4 86 species. The majority of these genetically admixed individuals were found on the Volcano 87 Wolf’s western slopes, facing Banks Bay (also known as Puerto Bravo, PBR: Figure 1b), with a 88 smaller number located on the volcano’s northwestern slopes near Piedras Blancas (PBL)25,26. 89 No purebred individuals of either of the two non-native species were found in 2008, but genetic 90 simulations and the young age of some mixed ancestry individuals indicated that purebred 91 Floreana and Pinta tortoises might still be present on Volcano Wolf25,26. 3 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/143131; this version posted May 27, 2017. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. 92 Here we build on this previous work. In November 2015 we mounted a 10-day-long 93 search involving ~70 field personnel combined with helicopter- and ship-support. Focusing our 94 search, we explored zones of Volcano Wolf most likely to contain individuals with ancestry from 95 these two “lost” species (Figure 1b) and restricted genetic sampling to those individuals with 96 saddle-backed morphology among the thousands of locally endemic domed C. becki. We then 97 assigned ancestry to these tortoises using reference databases containing both extant and extinct 98 species that have previously been used to assign ancestry to tortoises in the wild and captivity25– 99 31. Based on these assignments, we determined suitability of the tortoises for a genetically 100 informed captive breeding program aimed at reintroducing these key ecosystem engineers to 101 their native islands. 102 103 Results & Discussion 104 In total, we encountered 144 individuals with saddle-backed morphology. Of those, 112 105 were released after taking blood samples, and 32 with pronounced saddle-backed morphology 106 were transported to the Galápagos National Park Service’s captive tortoise breeding facility on 107 Santa Cruz Island32–34. We assigned ancestry to all 144 of these individuals along with six 108 saddle-backed tortoises known to have Floreana ancestry35 already residing at the breeding 109 center using information from ~700-bp of mitochondrial DNA sequence and diploid genotypes 110 from 12 nuclear microsatellite loci. These loci have previously been shown to accurately assign 111 individuals to tortoise species25–31. 112 Thirty-five of the 150 individuals analyzed had a mitochondrial DNA haplotype 113 diagnostic of the Floreana species (Supplementary Figure S1).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Giant Tortoises Under Threat by EM
    Giant Tortoises Under Threat by E. M. Fay Tortoises are among the longest-living animals on earth. Land-dwelling turtles of the family Testudinidae, they are vegetarian reptiles. Although they are found on 6 of the seven continents and on some islands, most of the approx. 40 living species are in Africa, especially in Madagascar. Giant tortoises are believed to have developed at least as early as the Cretaceous Period, over 100 million years ago. Slow-moving under their high, domed shells, giant tortoises have sturdy legs. In certain folklore, they represent determination, deliberateness, long life, and wisdom. When countries and cultures were relatively separate from one another, traditional cultural beliefs afforded a certain amount of protection to this ancient race. As Mr. Herilala Randriamahazo, an official of Madagascar’s Turtle Survival Alliance says, “People respected tortoises. They did not even touch them.” As man travelled more extensively around the world, however, and those humans from countries unfamiliar with giant tortoises “discovered” them, they tended to think of these majestic beings as just another resource to be exploited. Tortoises are now extinct on most of their former island homes because they were slaughtered for their meat and their shells. Their habitats were destroyed both by man himself, and by the introduction http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13799205 (by humans) to their islands of goats, pigs, rats, and other animals who ate their eggs and their young, and competed with them for food. Giant tortoises once native to some 30 islands in the Indian Ocean now have only one representative group living, those from South Aldabra Island.
    [Show full text]
  • Kinkaid School Quito & Galapagos Islands January 7
    KINKAID SCHOOL QUITO & GALAPAGOS ISLANDS JANUARY 7 – 15, 2016 Day 1 ~ Thursday, January 7, 2016 Houston/Quito Depart Houston flying to Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival, meet, assist and transfer to the hotel. Colon Hilton Quito Day 2 ~ Friday, January 8, 2016 Quito Spend the morning in Quito’s Colonial Quarter, which is a UNESCO World Hertiage Site. Begin in Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace. Visit the temple of La Compania de Jesus with its gilded interior. Continue on to the Monastery of San Francisco, one of the great religious buildings of the New World; its impressive façade and atrium that led to its Baroque interior influence. After a lunch at a restaurant in Quito or the equator area, continue through the bustling city and small villages to the Intiñan Solar Museum. This eccentric and interactive museum has demonstrations of various equator and solar-related phenomena, such as the Coriolis Effect and strength tests. Learn about the effects of the magnetic line 00°00’00”. The museum also houses a collection of totem poles, respresentative artwork of America and other continents whose territories are intersected by the equator, a coral of Andean camelids and models of traditional houses. This evening, enjoy a typical Ecuadorian dinner at La Choza, accompanied by a traditional folklore show of music and dancing by the Jacchigua Folklore Ballet Group. Colon Hilton Quito (B, L, D) Day 3 ~ Saturday, January 9, 2016 Quito Morning transfer to Quito airport for flight to the Galapagos Islands. Arrive Baltra Island Airport, for a bus transfer to Santa Cruz Island via the Itabaca Channel.
    [Show full text]
  • Giant Tortoises with Pinta Island Ancestry Identified In
    Biological Conservation 157 (2013) 225–228 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Biological Conservation journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/biocon Short communication The genetic legacy of Lonesome George survives: Giant tortoises with Pinta Island ancestry identified in Galápagos a, a a,b c d Danielle L. Edwards ⇑, Edgar Benavides , Ryan C. Garrick , James P. Gibbs , Michael A. Russello , Kirstin B. Dion a, Chaz Hyseni a, Joseph P. Flanagan e, Washington Tapia f, Adalgisa Caccone a a Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA b Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, MS 38677, USA c College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA d Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC, Canada V1V 1V7 e Houston Zoo, Houston, TX 77030, USA f Galápagos National Park Service, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador article info abstract Article history: The death of Lonesome George, the last known purebred individual of Chelonoidis abingdoni native to Received 22 August 2012 Pinta Island, marked the extinction of one of 10 surviving giant tortoise species from the Galápagos Archi- Received in revised form 9 October 2012 pelago. Using a DNA reference dataset including historical C. abingdoni and >1600 living Volcano Wolf Accepted 14 October 2012 tortoise samples, a site on Isabela Island known to harbor hybrid tortoises, we discovered 17 individuals with ancestry in C. abingdoni. These animals belong to various hybrid categories, including possible first generation hybrids, and represent multiple, unrelated individuals. Their ages and relative abundance sug- Keywords: gest that additional hybrids and conceivably purebred C.
    [Show full text]
  • The Galápagos Islands, 600 Miles O the Coast of Ecuador, Are Often
    AWE-INSPIRING EXPERIENCE LA PINTA A full-week discovery trip to the Galápagos Islands aboard La he Galápagos Islands, 600 miles o the coast of Ecuador, are often described as Pinta allows encounters with unique fauna in the wild, like the most exotic adventure destination. The Islands are universally admired for the famous giant Galápagos tortoises, land and marine iguanas, amingos, penguins, blue-footed boobies and the famous their unusual, human-tolerant wildlife, surreal volcanic landscapes and dramatic Darwin’s nches. T After intense days of wildlife exploration, La Pinta equatorial skies. The unique island environment provides an ideal setting for those provides a haven of relaxation and tranquility with tastefully interewsted in photography, hiking, bird watching, snorkeling and kayaking. appointed accommodations and all the facilities for a stylish yet informal ambiance. This 10-day special expedition, unlike any Galápagos cruise, has been designed by La Pinta guests will cover all aspects of the Galápagos: discovery, adventure, environmental interpretation, aquatic the most knowledgeable experts on the Galápagos. Learn about Darwin’s voyage to the activities, relaxation, superb service and great dining. Galápagos Islands over 150 years ago by our onboard guest speakers and tour leaders. Naturalist guides enhance their interpretative skills with the use of state-of-the-art expedition equipment. The Understand Darwin’s discoveries upon his return to England and the eect this new sta embraces a spirit of adventure, while at the same
    [Show full text]
  • ITINERARY C+D 8 Days – 7 Nights
    The Galapagos Islands DAY BY DAY ITINERARY C+D 8 days – 7 nights C Our Galapagos itineraries offer unforgettable experiences, with our weekly departures EAST allowing you to experience 3, 4, 7, and up to 14 nights tours including: full board, two daily + guided excursions with optional activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, dinghy rides and our new feature daily diving tours for license-holding divers. D SOUTH 8 Days / 7 Nights Sund ay: Baltra Airport pm. Charles Darwin Research Station & Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (Santa Cruz Island) Monday: GENOVESA am. Mosquera Islet Darwin Bay pm. North Seymour Island Tuesday: El Barranco, am. Santa Fe Island Prince pm. South Plaza Island Philip’s Steps Wednesday: am. Kicker Rock circumnavigation. Cerr o Colorado Tortoise Reserve (San Cristobal Island) pm. Interpretation Center & Tijeretas (San Cristobal Island). Thursday: am. Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal Island) pm. Pitt Point (San Cristobal Island ) Friday: am. Suarez Point (Española Island) Buccaneer Cove pm. Gardner Bay, Osborn or Gardner Islets (Española Island) Saturday: am. Cormorant Point, Devil’s Crown or Champion Islet (Floreana Island) pm.Post Office (Floreana Island) Sunday: am. Pit Craters (Santa Cruz) Baltra airport Pit Craters Charles Darwin Research Station Kicker Rock Champion Islet Gardner Islets DAY 1 - SUNDAY am – Baltra Airport Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island (2 ½-hour flight). Arriving in the Galapagos, passengers are picked up at the airport by our natural guides and taken to a ten-minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/Y Coral I or M/Y Coral II. pm – Charles Darwin Research Station & Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (Santa Cruz Island) Dry landing.
    [Show full text]
  • The Galapagos
    The Galapagos Islands of Fire The Galapagos Islands teem with wildlife, above and below the water. Even the rocks are alive and constantly threatening to erupt as volcanoes vent their fury in this spectacular and historic place. By Tony Karacsonyi nother feature of these isles is their emphatic Born of fi re as the tips of submarine ‘uninhabitableness’. It is deemed fi t for… the volcanoes, the Galapagos Islands is a place where “A evolution can be observed ‘in-situ’. Hundreds jackel itself; …but the encantadas refuse to harbour of kilometres from mainland Ecuador, animals even the outcasts of the beasts. Man and wolf alike and plants set adrift have somehow found and colonised these desert islands. Floating rafts of disown them. Little but reptile life is here found; vegetation, wind, air currents and oceanic drift tortoises, lizards… and that strangest anomaly of have all helped this colonisation, otherwise know as “sweepstakes dispersal”. outlandish nature, the iguano. No voice, no lo, no Birds displaced from migratory routes howl is heard; the chief sound of life here is a hiss” landed here, and sea birds carried seeds and invertebrates. Animals set adrift in the ocean – Herman Melville, from las Encantadas, 1841. currents came from North, Central and South 4 6 7 America and the Caribbean. Californian sea lions Wilson, took us near shore and armed with mask and land birds came from North America, while and snorkel, we slipped into the green waters. pink fl amingos and Darwin fi nches came from the Marine iguanas scampered on shore and within Caribbean.
    [Show full text]
  • Galapagos-Brochure.Pdf
    THE GALÁPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO A PARADISE THREATENED BY INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES Island Conservation’s mission is to prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands. Our Galápagos Program prevents extinctions and improves human livelihoods by removing invasive alien species (IAS) from islands throughout the Galápagos Archipelago, develops local capacity, and supports our partners’ efforts to control IAS where eradication is not currently possible. WHY GALÁPAGOS? ISOLATION EVOLUTION EXTINCTION RESILIENCE Growing out of the ocean from The Galápagos’ remote location Of the 432 Galápagos species Invasive alien species (IAS) a volcanic hotspot 1,000 km means its islands were colonized assessed for the IUCN* Red are the leading threat to the off the coast of Ecuador, the by only a few species that List, 301 are threatened and Galápagos’ biodiversity and Galápagos Islands are home subsequently radiated into a many only occur in a fraction addressing IAS is a national to a fantastic array of 2,194 multitude of unique species. of their former range due to priority. Removing IAS will allow terrestrial plant and animal Darwin’s finches are a classic IAS. Four native species have threatened plant and animal species, 54% (1,187) of which example of this adaptive already gone extinct to date. populations the opportunity are endemic (found only in the radiation and inspired Darwin’s to recover, increasing their Galápagos). formulation of the theory of resilience to future threats, evolution. such as climate change. BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND CAPACITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TAKING ACTION ISLAND CONSERVATION BOLD VISION Government institutions and local NGO’s Island Conservation (IC) is ideally The Galápagos National Park Directorate in the Galápagos are world leaders in IAS positioned to add value as a designer has a vision of an archipelago free of feral eradications from islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Species List
    Naturalist Journeys and Caligo Ventures Galapagos Birding and Wildlife Tour Species List – May 29 – June 5, 2017 With note from Ecuador (Puembo/Antisana National Park 1 day-pre-trip) Guides Carol Simon & Howard Topoff, with local experts and 18 participants Galapagos Islands Birds (40 species): Anatidae: Ducks, Geese, and Swans (1) White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis— seen Tuesday on Floreana Phoenicopteridae: Flamingos (1) American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber— Several in brackish lagoon at Punta Cormorant, Floreana Island seen on Wed Spheniscidae: Penguins (1) Galapagos Penguin Spheniscus mendiculus— seen near Punta Cormorant Wed; Bartolome on Fri Procellariidae: Petrels and Shearwaters (1) Galapagos Shearwater Puffinus subalaris— Open water bird seen near San Cristobal Mon/ Espanola Tues/ Floreana Wed / South Plazas Sat Hydrobatidae: Storm-Petrels (1) Elliot’s Storm Petrel Oceanites gracilis— Common throughout Galapagos, skittering across the water Phaethontidae: Tropicbirds (1) Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus— Tues flying near Espanola/on nest off Champion Island near Florana Wed/ South Plazas Sat Fregatidae: Frigatebirds (2) Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens— Seen toward beginning, San Cristobal, Sun/ following our boat on Mon / Off Espanola Tues / Floreana on Wednesday . Santa Cruz Thursday /off Bartolome Fri / North Seymour Sat / on the boat Sun Great Frigatebird Fregata minor— on Punta Pitt off San Cristobal Monday / on North Seymour Sat Sulidae: Gannets and Boobies (3) Nazca Booby Sula granti— Seen on bridge
    [Show full text]
  • Ultimate Galapagos Conservation Cruise
    UK OFFICE Valley Farm Studios Radway Warwick Warwickshire CV35 0UJ PHONE (+44) 01926641938 EMAIL [email protected] The Ultimate Galapagos PATAGONIAN OFFICE Conservation Trust Cruise Perez 830 Of.9 P.2 San Martin de los Andes 8370 NQN If you are looking for the trip of a lifetime then Patagonia Argentina look no further. This is a bespoke cruise, offering PHONE you the perfect way to see the Archipelago! (+54) 02972414196 EMAIL You will have exclusive opportunities to visit [email protected] Galapagos Conservation Trust funded projects WEB and to meet passionate conservationists working www.ice-tracks.com on the islands. Wild Tracks Expeditions: The Ultimate Galapagos Conservation Trust Cruise The Ultimate Galapagos Conservation Trust Cruise This unmissable trip of a life-time comprises of two weeks and is an opportunity to experience the wonders of the Galapagos. We are thrilled that award-winning guide Pablo Valladares will accompany the full 2 weeks. Joining the first week is Galapagos Conservation Trust’s Kelly Hague. Kelly’s passion for conservation stems from two and half years travelling through Africa and South and Central America. She spent over 20 years helping fund environmental projects, through work with BirdLife International, Tree Aid, the Grasslands Trust and the South Georgia Heritage Trust. We are privileged to have leading the second week Sharon Johnson Chief Executive of the Trust. Sharon’s vast experience in conservation projects include working for the Indonesian Forestry Commission in Borneo; the Royal Society of Nature Conservation in the Seychelles and as a warden for Birds Australia. As GCT’s CEO since 2015 Sharon has been helping to drive forward and promote conservation work in Galapagos.
    [Show full text]
  • The Galápagos
    8 or 11 days THE GALÁPAGOS FACULTY-LED INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS ABOUT THIS TOUR Th e rich environmental habitats of the Galápagos are home to a vast array of unique animal species, which are protected by the archipelago’s national park designation. Discover this natural wonderland from a firsthand perspective, including the Charles Darwin Research Station. You’ll also visit the historic sites of Quito and take an excursion to spectacular Cotopaxi National Park, home of the world’s highest active volcano. Through it all, you’ll return home prepared for whatever path lies ahead of you. Beyond photos and stories, new perspectives and glowing con- fidence, you’ll have something to carry with you for the rest of your life. It could be an inscription you read on the walls of a famous monument, or perhaps a joke you shared with another student from around the world. The fact is, there’s just something transformative about an EF College Study Tour, and it’s different for every traveler. Once you’ve traveled with us, you’ll know exactly what it is for you. DAY 2: Quito DAY 3: Galápagos Land Iguana DAY 3: Santa Cruz Island DAY 4: Isabela Island DAY 4: Bartolomé Island THE GALÁPAGOS 8 or 11 days INCLUDED ON TOUR: ADDITIONAL INFO: Round-trip airfare The itinerary on the Galápagos Islands is subject to Air and land transportation change based on government regulations. Hotel accommodations Equatorial Line Light breakfast and select meals daily Quito (4 or 5) Full-time Tour Director EXTENSION: Cotopaxi National Park Sightseeing tours and visits to special attractions Riobamba • Guamote • Quito (3 days) Bartolomé Rioioiobaobabamambmbbaaa( (2(2)2) Free time to study and explore Extend your tour and enjoy extra time exploring your Island North Seymour Island Baltra Island destination or seeing a new place at a great value.
    [Show full text]
  • Galaven 8 Days Itinerary A
    GALAPAGOS ITINERARY GALAVEN - 8 DAYS ITINERARY A TUESDAY - TUESDAY ISLANDS - Baltra DAY BY - Genovesa Island - Santiago Island - Santa Cruz Island - Floreana Island DAY - Española Island - San Cristobal Island DAY 1 MORNING FLIGHT FROM QUITO OR GUAYAQUIL TO BALTRA NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND –BLACK TURTLE COVE SUMMARY Assistance at the airport by our representative for your Galapagos Explore the central and eastern flight. islands on this 8-day Galapagos You will arrive at Baltra Island in the morning. After passing through itinerary onboard the Galaven immigration and baggage claim you will be met by Galaven staff and yacht. Spot blue-footed boobies, transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you Audubon's shearwaters, noddy will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing. terns and frigate birds at El In the afternoon we will visit Black Turtle Cove is situated in the Barranco and learn how northern part of Santa Cruz. This inlet is surrounded by mangroves and pahoehoe lava flows are formed is only accessible by dinghy. The shallow cove is a safe haven for at Sullivan Bay. Then get up young marine life. Black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and a close to giant tortoises at the variety of rays are often spotted here. Charles Darwin Research Station DAY 2 and go snorkeling in the abundant waters of Devil’s EL BARRANCO & DARWIN BAY Crown. Genovesa Island is located at the inner part of Darwin Bay. This area contains an abundance of frigatebirds and other interesting seabirds. Behind the small beach filled with nesting areas for frigates, Red- footed Boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls are a number of tide pools.
    [Show full text]
  • Galapagos Guardians: Galapagos Land, Sea and Underwater Adventures
    Galapagos Guardians: Galapagos Land, Sea and Underwater Adventures Galapagos Islands are a world apart, a must visit for every adventurous traveler, and a treasure for everyone who prizes a very special place where people and animals coexist in harmony. This fabulous World Heritage site, one of the most famous places on the planet, will transport you back in time. Here you will find not only spectacular wildlife, with a chance to get closer to wild animals than anywhere else on earth, but also a warm, slow-going atmosphere long disappeared from most places on the planet. There is simply nowhere else like it. Animals, Adventure and Natural History! This is land-based tourism in the Galapagos, you will see a side of the islands that most people don’t experience. That is because Land-based tourism - a recent concept in the Galapagos – is a new, more exciting and more responsible way to see the islands. Tropic has been involved with community-based conservation travel since its founding in 1994, and on the Galapagos, the company continues to work with local people to make tourism sustainable and to ensure the preservation of the archipelago´s incredible natural heritage. We are betting on the local people, and on working with them on responsible tourism as the best way to make sure the Galapagos survive intact. So join us, and fun-loving characters like Claudio, Maria de Lourdes, Polo, Bolivar, Lelia, and the many other committed conservationists you’ll meet on this voyage. At the same time you’ll see the Islands’ truly fantastic wildlife, and get closer to it than you ever imagined.
    [Show full text]