The Galapagos Islands - 1490 Words

The Galapagos Islands, located about 600 miles west of continental Ecuador, contain a rich history of settlement and exploration and represent a living example of evolution that is still relevant today. For centuries, this chain of volcanic islands has been used uniquely by various cultures based off distinct needs. What has remained the same however is the fact that island isolation has forced many animal and plant species to adapt differently from one another based off their island’s environmental conditions, creating a living model of microevolution over time. Today, these models tend to be the primary resources used by biology professors when teaching their students evolutionary topics. The Galapagos Islands are located in the†¦show more content†¦Currently there are two islands, Isabella and Fernandina, which are still being molded today, and are thus still highly active volcanoes. The weather in the Galapagos consists of two different seasons. Both are marked al l year by freezing rain due to the Humboldt Current flowing from the south. Other than this one similarity, the two seasons are completely opposites of one another. Constant wind and fog as well as regular rain showers that often last entire days characterize the months of June through November. December through May on the other hand is sunny, windless, and has very little precipitation. The Galapagos are also affected every three to seven years by a weather cycle known as El Nino. This climate pattern causes extreme drought, which greatly influences both terrestrial and marine organisms. It is characterized by a warming of sea temperature, rise in sea level, and depletion of nutrients. The Galapagos Islands hold a very extensive history marked by constant changes in reasons for people using them. The first documented discovery of the islands occurred in 1535 when Fray Tomas de Berlanga of Panama accidentally came cross them while attempting to sail from Peru back to Panama. There i s much controversy however in regards to the truth behind him being the first to have found the islands. Records show that Incas used these islands for food and exploration years before Berlanga claimed to have found them. Nevertheless, the Galapagos remained unsettledShow MoreRelatedDiversity in the Galapagos Islands861 Words   |  3 Pagesnot see the Galapagos Islands how we do today. The islands hold exotic and extraordinary plants and animals. Of these animals, some are going extinct or have already gone extinct. There are many varieties of natural and introduced plant life. Charles Darwin was born February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. He sailed on the HMS Beagle in 1831. He knew he was going to the Galapagos, but he didnt know that he would discover the theory of evolution. The plants on the Galapagos Island are very tropicalRead MoreInformative Speech Galapagos Islands Outline Essay791 Words   |  4 PagesGalapagos Islands Purpose: To inform my classmates about the Galapagos Islands. Thesis: The Galapagos Islands are located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, a beautiful and exotic place for your next vacation. Organizational Pattern: Topical I. Introduction A. Attention Getter: Have you guys heard about giant tortoises? They live in the Galapagos Islands, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. B. Relevance: Most college students want to go on vacation once they graduate from collegeRead MoreThe Galapagos Islands1539 Words   |  7 PagesThe Galapagos Islands The Galapagos Islands are a group of 16 islands located in the Pacific Ocean that straddle the equator about 525 miles west of the South American Coastline. The islands were formed by underwater volcanoes millions of years ago and belong to Ecuador. The Galapagos are well known for their vast diversity in plant and animal populations. Some of the plant and animal life found on the islands cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The Galapagos Islands are considered toRead MoreThe Island Of The Galapagos Archipeggio716 Words   |  3 PagesIsabela Island, the largest island of the Galà ¡pagos archipeggio, seemed to rise straight out of the water. The sedimentary rock cliffs were rusty brown, but were covered with life. Red and black crabs rested on the surface, while blue-footed boobies gracefully dived into the water to catch sardines. Baby nazca boobies peered out of their nests to see a small inflatable boat, known as a panga, bobbing in the water. Our guide, Christina, enth usiastically shared her knowledge of these animals to myRead MoreLife and Business in the Galapagos Islands624 Words   |  3 PagesBusiness in the Galapagos Islands takes place mainly during lunch hour, as many people are out at midday eating. Restaurants may even be closed at night in rural areas. This is because some serve local food or cater for tourists in larger cities. In more recent decades, fast food restaurants common in America have been drifting over to Ecuador, such as McDonalds. There is also a Chinese community that originated back in the 19th century here. This familiarizes the locals with dishes like fried richRead MoreEvoloution of Polar Bears (Lamarck vs Darwin) Essay1102 Words   |  5 Pagescomponent of evolution. Natural Selection occurs when a subject has a feature that enables to be able to survive more easily than those without it. Take for example the Galapagos Finches (Darwin’s Finches). Found on the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean are a g roup of about 13 types of finches with different beaks living on separate islands. It is believed that these finches all came from the same ancestral bird, but different food sources caused them to develop different beaks. In 1977 a drought reducedRead MoreGeology of the Galapagos Islands Essay2302 Words   |  10 Pagesfoot on the Islands of the Galapagos Archipeligo setting off on what would become the inspiration for the most important innovation in biological sciences either before or since. That visit solidified for Darwin his notion of the evolution of life on Earth, and helped trigger his breakthrough regarding Natural Selection, ultimately culminating in his groundbreaking masterpiece On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. And although Darwin would never return to these Islands in his lifetimeRead MoreCulture of Ecuador and the Glapagos Islands1469 Words   |  6 PagesEcuador and the Glapagos Islands Meghan Lazor Ecuador is South America’s second smallest country and is regarded as one of the most geographically and ethnically diverse countries on the continent. The Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador with a small population of only 10,000 people. Both culture-rich countries are largely uncharted, making them an exciting and adventurous place to visit. Ecuador is located in the northwest corner of South America with the Galapagos Islands to the west. The equatorRead MoreCharles Darwin and Galapagos911 Words   |  4 PagesCharles Darwin arrived at the Galapagos in 1835 ready to record everything he saw. Herman Melville got there in 1841 with different goals. They were both young men when they took this journey to raid the islands: Darwin raided in the name of science and Melville for food (Howarth, 99). After their respective journeys, Darwin and Melville wrote two different books describing the same islands. The respective books made the headlines after they were written. This pape r will compare Charles Darwin’sRead MoreEssay on My Dream Place756 Words   |  4 PagesMy dream place would be a house on a Galapagos Island. My land will be located on the Isabella Island. It will be nice and relaxing because it has a constant weather all that time, perfect environment. Also I will have a nice 2 floor cabin. The cabins will look like the ones that you see in forest. My whole family will live there after I am 75. But before that I will spend my time gathering all the money to buy a piece of land, a plane, a boat, and some vegetable seed (lot of them). I want my dream