Historical Background and Location

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The Galapagos Islands lie on the equator just off the coast of Ecuador in South America. Comprised of 13 main islands and 48 smaller islands of more than 5 million years old, these land masses have been recognized as a site of great biodiversity and endemism. Known to be the place where Darwin created his famed theory of evolution and process of natural selection, these islands possess much ecological and historical value and have remained to be an environmental treasure to this day.                  

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The galapagos islands and its many ecosystems are unique in their geographic setting and ecological background. Historically these islands formed via volcanic activity that rose from the sea floor. These eruptions built underwater mountains that continued to grow until it formed the modern archipelago we see today. Each island is a single shield volcano, except Isabela, which is comprised of a total of six shield volcanoes. Today, the islands remain to be one of the most volcanically active sites on Earth. Since their formation, however, many of the islands have experienced great amounts of erosion, especially in places near the sea. In the arid lowlands in particular, however, the process is slow, because there is little soil present in those areas. The soil tends to remain amidst the volcanic cracks in the earth and is a reddish tint, in opposition to the darker soil found at higher altitudes. Historically, the climate of this ecosystem has remained fairly dry, due to the melting of the glacial ice sheets of North America that occurred nearly 2 million years ago. The dry, yet cool temperature has both had strong effects on the types of vegetation permitted to grow there, as well as the species that have been able to thrive.

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Due to the dry climate, the main vegetation of the arid lowland ecosystem in the galapagos are cacti. These plants are able to survive in severe weather conditions by storing water in their leaves and stems. The most common cactus present is the Prickly Pear Cactus (Optuntia Cactaceae), which produces yellow flowers and grows like a shrub. It is the main food source of the Galapagos Land Iquanas (Conolophus subcristatus) , a fauna that is also commonly seen in this ecosystem. Other types of flora in the region include the Lava Cactus (Brachycereus Nesioticus) which are small and grow in clumps, producing a white flower, and the Candelabra Cactus (Jasminocerus Thouarii) which have tube-shaped pads. 

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References: 

"Galapagos Cactus". Galapagos Online. 23 Nov. 2012.     <http://www.galapagosonline.com/>.

Jackson, Michael Hume. Galapagos: A Natural History Guide. University of Calgary Press, 1993. Google Books. 23 Nov. 2012.
<http://books.google.com/>.

Neall, E. Vincent and Steven A Trewick; "The Age and Origin of the Pacific Islands: a geological   overview. vol. 363 no. 1508. Royal Society Publishing, 27 Oct. 2008. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/>.

Conservation Efforts and Human Impact

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The arid lowlands and open forests of cacti are just one ecosystem of the galapagos islands. Yet because this ecosystem hosts such unique species of flora and fauna that range from a variety of finches, to blue-footed boobies, and land iguanas, efforts have been made to protect the islands. In 1979, the Galapagos were declared a World Heritage site of UNESCO, a convention that protects unique natural areas including, but not limited to, the Serengeti of Tanzania, and Yellowstone National Park of the United States. Later in 1987, the coasts of the islands and water surrounding were declared a Marine Resources Reserve by President Febres-Cordero of Ecuador.

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While the islands remain to be a protected National Park to this day, it is still a fragile ecosystem that has showed signs of negative human impacts due to recent increased amounts of tourism. The Galapagos Conservancy has reported that tourism has drastically increased within the past recent decades, and has gone from about 41,000 people in 1990 to over 100,000 in 2005. This combined with the increasing residency among the islands (table left) has drastically threatened the biodiversity of the ecosystem. Other problems include the introduction of non-native species, increased pollution, accelerated erosion, illegal fishing, and careless tourism, all of which have drastically threatened the islands' biodiversity and endemism. Overall, the increasing amounts of human activity on the islands have increased this ecosystem's vulnerability and  compromised its infrastructure.

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Some National Park Rules of the Galapagos Islands include:

1. No plants, animals, or any other natural objects from the islands can be removed or disturbed.
2. Don't leave any materials behind on the island.
3. No food can be taken onto the islands.
4. Animals may not be touched, handled, fed, or disturbed/chased from its nesting area.
5. No graffiti permitted on any natural rock, etc.
6. All vistors must be accompanied by an approved guide when visiting the islands.
7. The Park is divided into different zones for better management, don't hesitate to spread a conservationist attitude.


References:

Epler, Bruce. Tourism, the Economy, Population Growth, and Conservation in Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation. 2007. 25 Nov. 2012.
<www.darwinfoundation.org>.

Jackson, Michael Hume. Galapagos: A Natural History Guide. University of Calgary Press, 1993. Google Books. 23 Nov. 2012.
<http://books.google.com/>.

Smith, Nicole. "The Human Impact on the Galapagos Islands". Article Myriad 2012. 24 Nov. 2012.
 <http://www.articlemyriad.com/human-impact-galapagos-islands/>.

Future Prospects and Suggestions

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It is evident that the current delicate state of the arid lowlands of the Galapagos islands show that its future prospects are not headed in a positive direction. It currently faces many challenges, and is in bad shape due to large amounts of tourism. This unfortunately leads to increased pollution, adverse weather patterns, and endangerment of natural species. In 2007, UNESCO added the islands to its list of "World Heritage in Danger". Thus unless drastic measures are taken to preserve the ever important diversity and endemism the archipelago has to offer, is it clear that the ecosystem will rapidly deteriorate.

Yet because tourism serves as the backbone to the Galapagos' economy representing roughly 88% of its annual revenue, it is important to recognize that there are many possible solutions in preventing the declining state of this ecosystem. Continued support and cooperation from national and private organizations is necessary in preserving the quality of the ecosystem. Strong measures need to be taken by the Galapagos Marine Reserve and the Galapagos National Park in stopping the illegal fishing and over-fishing by locals, which have a drastic effect in upsetting the natural balance of the arid lowlands. Most importantly, however, tourists need to take extreme caution when visiting the arid lowlands and other areas on the islands. Though often unintentional, humans cause much of the destruction witnessed today. Thus it is important to encourage and maintain sustainable, eco-friendly tourism so as to minimize human impacts in this area. This not only means abiding by national park rules, but also includes spreading and sharing an appreciation for all the incredible life the lowlands have to offer.


References:

Epler, Bruce. Tourism, the Economy, Population Growth, and Conservation in Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation. 2007. 25 Nov. 2012.
<www.darwinfoundation.org>.

"Galapagos Islands". Natural Habitat Adventures. Conservation Travel Provider. 2011. 25 Nov. 2012.
<www.aboutgalapagos.com>.

"Issues in the Galapagos". Galapagos Conservation Trust. 2011. 25 Nov. 2012.
<www.savegalapagos.org>.

Vacation Photos

My family and I traveled to the Galapagos with the Linblad Expedition in August, 2004. At the time I was only 11 years old, yet it was still a fantastic vacation.

There I got to see there arid lowlands of the galapagos first hand. I saw lots of prickly pear cacti and both land and marine iguanas. The temperature was dry, yet breezy. It shocked me how much of the environment there remained untouched and undisturbed by humanity. Most of the islands were unpopulated by humans, and the absence of people made me realize how important it is to preserve the islands' natural state. The Galapagos provide us with so many benefits, and has been the forefront in demonstrating how species undergo adaptation to their environment. Without the preservation of the arid lowlands and the galapagos as a whole, these species that have survived to evolve throughout the past 5 million years will become extinct.

 

More Photos...

panoramic picture of some islands from land

giant galapagos tortoises

Final List of Sources

Epler, Bruce. Tourism, the Economy, Population Growth, and Conservation in Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation. 2007. 25 Nov. 2012.
<www.darwinfoundation.org>.

"Galapagos Cactus". Galapagos Online. 23 Nov. 2012.     <http://www.galapagosonline.com/>.

"Galapagos Islands". Natural Habitat Adventures. Conservation Travel Provider. 2011. 25 Nov. 2012.
<www.aboutgalapagos.com>.

"Issues in the Galapagos". Galapagos Conservation Trust. 2011. 25 Nov. 2012.
<www.savegalapagos.org>.


Jackson, Michael Hume. Galapagos: A Natural History Guide. University of Calgary Press, 1993. Google Books. 23 Nov. 2012.
<http://books.google.com/>.

Neall, E. Vincent and Steven A Trewick; "The Age and Origin of the Pacific Islands: a geological   overview. vol. 363 no. 1508. Royal Society Publishing, 27 Oct. 2008. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. <http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/>.

Smith, Nicole. "The Human Impact on the Galapagos Islands". Article Myriad 2012. 24 Nov. 2012.
 <http://www.articlemyriad.com/human-impact-galapagos-islands/>.