Invasive species in Galapagos There are 1 5 7 9 alien species in Galapagos An AL I E N species has been introduced outside of its natural distribution. Marine Marine Terrestrial Pathogens Terrestrial Terrestrial Vertebrates If this species becomes invertebrates plants insects invertebrates plants problematic it becomes 21 2 545 63 77 821 50 an I N V ASIVE AL I E N . How were they introduced? Continued threat... 4310 tourists in Galapagos Intentionally 107 25K introduced 27 flights a week resident population each day new alien (mostly plants) 46% species introduced per Unintentional: Unknown contaminant year for past 2% 42% Unintentional: 40 stowaway years 10% Land tourism up to cargo ships per 5month between 19 fold increase 46% in tourism in of invasive species have been = less regulated movement Guayaquil and past 3 decades 76% introduced since 1970 than live-aboard boats Galapagos Taken from: Toral-Granda MV, Causton CE, Jäger H, Trueman M, Izurieta JC, Araujo E, et al. (2017) Alien species pathways to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. P L o s O N E 12(9): e0184379. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184379 KEY INVASIVE SPECIES IN GALAPAGOS AND PROJECTS TO REDUCE THEM Philornis downsi Rubus niveus Small mammals

An invasive parasitic fly which is present on 14 The hill raspberry or 'mora' was introduced in 1970 In the 1800s early settlers brought domesticated islands. Causing morbidity and mortality in at for agriculture. The seeds are dispersed by rats and goats and pigs to Galapagos. Pigs are omnivores least 12 species of birds - including the critically birds that feed on the fruit. It is now widespread and thus are threats to both animals and plants. endangered mangrove finch. The flies lay their across the Archipelago. In some places, dense spiny They eat the eggs of giant tortoises and birds, and eggs in the nasal cavities of the nestlings to feed thickets grow up to 3m turning agricultural areas compete for and demolish the same food plants on blood and tissue fluid. These flies cause into wasteland and preventing the unique native that native animals rely on. The introduction of multiple wounds and infections, eventually killing forest, dominated by the endemic daisy tree, cats and rats onto the island of Floreana has the nestlings. Scalesia, from regenerating. threatened endemic species. SAVING THE PROTECTING LITTLE RESTORING MANGROVE FINCH VERMILION FLYCATCHERS FLOREANA Around 100 individuals left. The little vermilion flycatcher population 55 species on Floreana are currently on Santa Cruz island is close to extinction. listed on the IUCN Red List.

EN The most endangered bird in Galapagos. Decreasing habitat quality due to mora CR Two are critically endangered. 'Headstarting' took place between 2014 means that protein and fat rich and 2017, where chicks are raised in invertebrates on the ground cannot be 12 species are also locally extinct such as captivity and released back into the reached. This leads to nest abandonment the like the Floreana mockingbird and mangroves when ready to fledge. by the females. Galapagos racer.

In 2018 the nests were carefully injected New restoration project aims to prevent The project aims to undertake one of the with a solution, reducing the number of the extinction of these beautiful birds, largest, and most complex, eradication larvae in the nests and increasing survival which includes restoring six hectares of projects ever conducted on an inhabited of the chicks. Scalesia forest, prime habitat for the little tropical island, with the goal to vermilion flycatcher. reintroduce locally extinct species.