I´ve Arrived!

Greetings from the Galapagos! We arrived in San Christobal yesterday. San Christobal, while not the most populated island is the capital of the Galapagos. Upon arriving, we headed to our hotel, where we spotted blue footed boobies, frigate birds, and pelicans flying above the harbor. A finch swooped down while we were eating lunch and ate some seeds off a hamburger bun. Down at the small beach in front of our hotel, there is a colony of bachelor sea lions. Sea lion bulls (males) have colonies or harems of about thirty cows (females) and their pups, although the cows are free to wander from one territory to another. Not all males are so lucky. Those that do not have their own colonies are not tolerated near females and have to congregate together in “bachelor colonies.” The picture here is of one of these males who, like other males, will growl if you get too close.

Later in the evening, we headed down the boardwalk for dinner, and we spotted another colony, this time with females and pups! Some of the little ones stayed close to the cows, but some wandered off one their own. A few pups congregated on the sidewalk, and when we got too close, the bull began to bark and waddle toward us. Later, I observed two of the pups playing with a stick.

To learn more about how the islands formed, how species developed, and general information about the Galapagos, click here.

During the day, we headed to GAIAS (the Galapagos Academic Institute of Arts and Sciences) where we attended a lecture by oceanographer Judy Denkinger. She explained how the affects of climate change and overfishing are impacting the Galapagos. Seventh graders, remember what you learned about convection currents: there are warm water and cold water currents that travel the earth like a conveyor belt. The cold water currents run deeper in the ocean than the warm currents. Because of the cold currents that run past the islands, the nutrients (plankton) from the deep are transported to the top, so there is plenty for fish to eat. This is why there is so much life in the waters around the Galapagos. El Nino is a natural phenomenon that happens every 10-15 years but global warming can increase the frequency of these natural events. The warming effect decreases the amount of nutrients in the surface (they sink to a level they can survive). The fish in these waters often migrate elsewhere where they can find food, leaving marine animals like penguins, cormorants, and sea lions without food. In 1982, 90% of the sea lions died and all of their pups perished as a result of starvation. The Galapagos also lost 99% of their hard coral population due to bleaching. (See my other blog for information about coral bleaching).

How can you help? Remember, we can help combat global warming. The less fossil fuels we use, the less carbon dioxide we release into the atmosphere. At home, use less energy and use energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs. Turn off lights and appliances you aren’t using. Turn down the heat. Use public transportation. Walk. Ride your bike. These little things can help if we work together. We also need to pressure our government to take action as well.

In addition to climate change, there are also effects from overfishing. According to Science magazine, if we keep taking fish out of our oceans at the rate we are currently doing, the species populations could collapse in 30 years. We are taking out fish and shark populations so before they are able to reproduce. You can imagine what this does to populations. But it also has an effect on entire ecosystems. Again, there is something you can do. Don’t buy or eat fish that is endangered. Check out Monterrey Aquarium’s website to see what you shouldn’t eat).