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GALAPAGOS ISLANDS By Byrdie Paisley Table of Contents Table of Contents……………………………………………………………..page 2 Introduction……………………………………………………………….…..page 3 Chapter I…………………………………………………………….………...page 4 Chapter II…………………………………………………………….……….page 7 Chapter III…………………………………………………….……..……....page 11 Chapter IV…………………………………………………………..……....page 14 Chapter V……………………………………………………………..……..page 18 Chapter VI……………………………………………………………...……page 20 Conclusion…………………………………………………………..……....page 23 Works Cited……………………………………………………………….....page 24 Image Credits……………………………………………………………......page 25 2 3 Introduction I had heard of the islands before and all of their unique animals and it seemed really interesting because of how it inspired Darwin’s theory. I wanted to do something that not many people knew about beforehand. I knew a few people who had gone and liked it, but I didn't really know much about it. I liked how most of the animals live nowhere else on earth and how they all adapted so they could live there. My biggest questions were will the Galapagos be destroyed by humans building and destroying the Galapagos, how important is the Galapagos to other people, and how do humans affect the Galapagos? The most awesome thing about the islands is how most of them lived somewhere else and somehow ended up on the islands. It is cool how they all adapted over time to the islands and now have everything they need to survive. The unique flora and fauna of the Galapagos have had a significant impact on science, because they have forced scientists to rethink how life began and evolved on earth. The animals of the Galapagos are marvelous and their adaptations are found nowhere else. In particular the flora and fauna found on the islands forced Charles Darwin to rethink nature, as he developed his theory of evolution. Endemic animals such as marine iguanas and tortoises have inspired people to learn more about nature and how life began. 4 Chapter I The surface area of the Galapagos islands is 3,089 square miles. There are 13 major islands, five minor ones, and over 200 rocks and islets. Some major islands are Isla Darwin, Isla Pinta, Isla Fernandina, Isla Isabela, Isla Genovesa, Isla Española, and Isla Santa Cruz. The minor ones are Isla Baltra, Isla Pinzón, Isla Tortuga, Isla Gardener, and Isla Seymour Norte. Some rocks and islets are Kicker Rock, Roca Este, and Islet Five Fingers. In total there are over 220 islands, rocks and islets. All of the Islands belong to the country of Ecuador. The islands rest on the Nazca tectonic plate. The plate is just off the west coast of South America, in the eastern Pacific Basin. The Nazca plate is largely responsible for the Andean Orogeny. The Andean Orogeny causes the Andes Mountains to rise. The islands are 600 miles west of Ecuador, and are in the eastern Pacific Ocean. All of the Islands belong to the country of Ecuador. The cold and dry season is from June to October. The average high of July is 75°F and the low is 68°F. The high of August which is the coldest month has a ​ ​ ​ ​ high of about 74°F and a low of 69°F. The low in September is 68°F and the high ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ is 76°F. The high of October is around 77°F and the low is 70°F. The average ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ temperature of the cold and dry season is 72°F which is cold compared to the rest ​ ​ of the year. The warm season is from March to June. The high of March is about 86°F ​ and the low is 74°F. The average low of April is 74°F and the high is 84°F. The ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ average high of May is 82°F and the low is 71°F. The low of June is about 70°F ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 5 and the high is 78°F. The average temperature of the warm season is 82°F, which ​ ​ ​ ​ makes it a nice time to visit and see animals. The wet season is from November to February. The average high in November is 77°F and the low is 68°F. The high of ​ ​ ​ ​ December is around 80°F and the low is ​ ​ 70°F. The low in January is about 69°F and ​ ​ ​ ​ the high is 78°F. In February the low is ​ ​ around 75°F and the high is 84°F making it ​ ​ ​ ​ one of the hottest months of the year. The average temperature of the wet season is 80°F. ​ ​ The water temperature is about the same whenever you choose to see marine life. The water temperature of the cold and dry season is around 75°F. In the warm ​ ​ season the water normally is about 72°F. In the wet season the water is around ​ ​ 72°F. The hottest the water will normally get is 78°F in March. In August the water ​ ​ ​ ​ is the coldest at 69°F degrees. The average water temperature is 76°F which is a ​ ​ ​ ​ great temperature for marine life. There are twenty-one volcanoes on the islands. Five are on Isla Isabela which are: Volcan Darwin, Volcan Wolf, Volcan Cerro Azul, Volcan Sierra, and Volcan Alcedo. The volcano on Isla Fernandina is Volcan Cumbre. The volcano on Isla Pinta is Volcan Major. Thirteen of the twenty-one emergent volcanoes are active. 6 La Cumbre is the youngest volcano on the islands. The volcanoes are between 4.2 million years old and 700,000 years old. Volcan Wolf is the highest peak. Genovesa Island is a volcanic island. The last volcano to erupt was LA Cumbre on January 6, 2020. Most volcanoes on the island are shield volcanoes. 7 Chapter II There are many kinds of birds on the Galapagos islands but only two kinds of Frigate birds.The two species are the Magnificent Frigate and the Great Frigate. Frigates are known as the acrobats of the sky and the pirates of the sky. Frigates are outstanding flyers. Both the Magnificent and the Great Frigates are similar in behavior, but different in size. The Magnificent Frigates scientific name is Fragata Real. They are around two and one-half feet in height, and they are around four feet in length. Their wingspan is about seven feet which allows them to soar for days on wind currents. The Great Frigates scientific name is Fragata Comun. The Great Frigates length is around three feet and their wingspan is eight feet. The height of a Great Frigate is about three and one-half feet. Male Frigates inflate their neck pouch to attract a mate. It takes a Frigate 20-30 minutes to inflate his neck pouch. Frigates steal food from other birds. That is why they are known as pirates. It takes two years before a young frigate is able to live on its own, however it is only around five months before a young Frigate can fly. Frigates nest in trees and shrubs. A female lays only one egg. Frigates are extremely unique birds and have 8 adapted to the Galapagos environment by stealing food from other birds like the Boobies and Swallow tailed gulls so they do not have to find it. Swallow tailed gulls have adapted to the Galapagos environment no other gull has been known to live in. Swallow tailed gulls are considered to be the most beautiful gull in the world. Their scientific name is Larus Furcatus. There are a couple thousand individual Swallow Tailed Gulls on the islands. A Swallow Tailed Gull mother lays only one egg. Gulls are sometimes overlooked as birds, but they are fascinating to learn more about. Swallow Tailed Gulls have large red rings around their eyes . The large eye of the gull has a red ring around it during mating season. The gull’s ring also helps them see at night. Their length is two feet. Their wingspan is two feet. The eye of the gull is yet another example of animal adaptation. Swallow Tailed Gulls eat mostly the same food as other gulls. They eat squid and fish. The Swallow Tailed Gull is the only gull that eats at night. When a gull will look for food during the day, a frigate will try to steal it from them. Gulls nest on cliff faces. They nest on cliff faces overlooking the ocean. Boobies are some of the most extraordinary and unique birds. On the islands there are three species of Boobies. They are some of the most interesting seabirds. 9 The name Booby means someone who is easy to fool. They are called Boobies because when explorers first came to the islands the Boobies were easy to capture. Boobies are endemic to the Galapagos islands. Blue Footed Boobies do not need much food or shelter. They have air sacks in their skull so they do not damage it when they dive for fish. They eat fish and small squid. They dive from 50 feet or higher. The first born boobie chick kicks the younger chick out of the nest if there is not enough food. Normally the parent can not find enough food. The younger chick not surviving is normal. Having one chick helps the parent have a healthy chick. Masked Boobies are the largest boobies. Red footed boobies are not normally seen by tourists, but they are seen more than the masked boobies. Red Footed Boobies are like Blue Footed Boobies except they have red feet. They nest in trees and shrubs. Masked boobies are almost never seen near tourists. Darwin's Finches are one of the animals that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The finches are not as impressive as they might seem. There are 14 species of finch on the islands. Some species of finch are the vegetarian finch, large cactus finch, sharp beaked ground finch, cactus finch, and the warbler finch.

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