NAME: ANEESA BOODOO

ID NO.: 816012642

COURSE CODE:BIOL3070

COURSE NAME: Caribbean Island Ecology and Biogeography

DATE: 28/10/2021

TITLE: Galapagos- David Attenborough BBC Natural History Unit

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BASED ON THE MATERIAL IN THE VIDEO

AND BIOL3070 LECTURES.

Video 1. Origin
1. Briefly, how were the Galapagos Islands formed?
- the galapagos island has many smaller islands there are approximately 16 of them
- larger island is called isabella
- 6 separate volcanoes that came to become one huge island
- alcedo island is the most remote island, 4 miles across
- volcanic vents are under the galapagos islands and they are connected to the hot
spot in the centre of the island which account for the number of volcanoes
- They are on the equator, the crossroads between two competing winds, the
southeast trade winds and the north east trade winds from the caribbean. They
carried the earlier settlers from different islands, brought seeds, the few that
reached were bare rock and some grew and evolved.

2. How long ago were the first islands formed and are those first islands still above sea
level?
- 4 million years ago is when the galapagos island started to form with the eruption
of the volcano sending ash and magma to the surface which harden and then the
different islands started forming there are currently 16 islands all of which are
volcanic islands and most are now extinct and now crumbling into the sea, the
new year island are still growing fernandina, 500, 000 years ago, the lava fields
are still weather island is still growing.

3. What passive dispersal methods have been used to reach the Galapagos? Give 3 examples
from the Video
- Passive dispersal is when an organism needs assistance moving from one place to
another. The seeds in the previous example are dispersing passively.
- some plants used albatross is the king of long distance flying birds, which breeds
and raise a chick, provided them with a nesting site, they bring seeds in their
feather and their feet, small patches form,
 - the giant tortoises are found on the island ¼ of the ton are the largest weight, they
get energy from the sun, they are not the same, 15 species,
- spiders reach the islands, they ballooned to the island, the hatchlings of the spider
used specially adaptive skill, the skill is two filaments that are stuck together and
the slighted wind sends it flying away. some fly up to high up to meet the trade
winds.
- Some insects, like beetles, have large wings, which use their wings to reach the
galapagos islands. Some beetles don't have wings or have small wings; this is
through evolution.
- Inside a piece of wood there is a carpenter bee, which is how they arrived on the
island.

4. What active dispersal methods have been used to reach the Galapagos? Give 1 example
from the video.
- Active dispersal is when organisms move from one location to another without assistance
- The seeds of the mangrove float in the water. It has a long shoot which provides
the seeds with nutrients for it to grow so when it reaches the shore to start
growing roots and then start growing.

5. What are the main pollinators of plants on the Galapagos Islands? Why did this pollinator
reach and not other pollinators?

- The main pollinators are the carpenter bees of the galapagos islands, they reach the island
through the pieces of wood they are in the hollow region of the branches. The pollinators
finally reach the island.
- the main flowers are white or yellow for the carpenter bees to allow them to pollinate
them
- Some pollinators did not reach the island due to the long distance they have to travel as
well as getting food and shelter for the long trip.
6. Coastal species of marine organisms are often unique (endemic) to the Galapagos, but at
lower rates than terrestrial species. Why are marine species less likely to be endemic?
volcanic islands

- seed of a mangrove, the seed has a green part where it can provide food for the
plant, the seed attaches itself to the soil where it starts to grow. The mangrove
provides a habitat in the water ecosystem; they are endemic to the volcanic island
because they have to adapt to the ever changing island geology.
- because there is a mangrove system there that means that there is gonna be a lot of
marine organisms like garden eels.
- there is also hammerhead sharks which congregate at the galapagos island due
- this is also a temporary since they usually became to mae
- the red lip batfish is unique to the island it fin
- The sea robin has bright blue fins to frighten away the fishes.
- there is also the molar molar also known as the sun fish, eats vast amounts of jelly
fishes
- The marine fishes are attracted to the island because of the large amount of
planktons which are fed on by the whale shark, the humpback whales and many
other mammals.

7. Give an example of 1 bird species that is likely to have arrived on the Galapagos by
accident (i.e. it is not typically a wide ranging, ocean going species). Why is it thought to
be an accidental dispersal colonist and what characteristics does the species now have to
help it as permanent Galapagos Island Residents?
- some plants used albatross is the king of long distance flying birds mainly to rest
and to raise young
- Blue footed bobie bird tries to gets his mates attention, 25 metres 60 miles /hr to
get food from the water,they have special air sacs.
 - Homer birds arrived a long time ago,the species has adapted to the island,it has
well adapted feet for swimming. many nesting sites, no predators to harass them.
One of the thin adaptations is the loss of their wings making them larger. more
carrying for their young.
- Penguins are also native so the island since the water from the cold regions
intercept at the galapagos island

8. How is it thought tortoises arrived in the Galapagos Islands? Was it active or passive
dispersal?

The tortoises arrived on the Galapagos islands through an accident. It was noted where
they originated through an accident, due to heavy rainfalls and they got swept away from
the southeast islands. Galapagos island is isolated from the south american continents.
The tortoises that reach here were able to reproduce since they are able to store sperm and
later fertilize the egg which they would lay and then be able reproduce and colonise the
account. then they were able to adapt and to be able to evolve. They moved through
active dispersals.

9. How is it thought iguanas arrived in the Galapagos? Was it active or passive dispersal?
The iguanas arrived at the galapagos islands through continental drift where they were
able to stay dry on the log or pieces of wood. iguanas have this amazing ability to survive
without eating or drinking any water. they are able to survive these long journeys where
they are able to finally reach their final destination, they move through passive dispersal.

10. According to the Video, which animals are over represented and which are
under-represented on the Galapagos Islands? Use this to discuss if the biota of the
Galapagos Islands in harmony with the biota of continental South America.
the species that are over represented is the tortoises and the under - represented is the plants of
the galapagos islands and the marine organisms.

Video 2. Adaptation

11. What adaptations have marine iguanas evolved to survive in the coastal marine
Galapagos Islands?
The marine iguanas evolved to survive in the coastal marine Galapagos islands; they have
adapted to breath underwater and the ability to eat the sea grass that has grown due to the
nutrient rich marine ecosystem. because they eat a lot of the seagrass this means that they have a
lot of salt in their body which can result in them having to remove the salt through their nose.

12. Briefly describe the niche in which iguanas on the mainland occupy and the niche marine
iguanas occupy in the Galapagos Islands. Are iguanas generalist or specialist species on
the mainland or on the Galapagos Islands?
iguanas on the mainland occupy the hot lava rock that is on the island after they have
basked in the cold sea gathering food, they now have to increase their temperature. Their
marine niche is to ensure that the seagrass doesn't overgrown. They are a specialist
species that evolved. They mainly eat grass but because there wasn't much grass that was
grown on the region of the island this then resulted in them going to the seas to eat the
sea grass they didn't change their diet they kept the same vegetative diet as before.
13. What type of rainfall is prevalent on middle-aged Galapagos Islands?
- Humid oceanic wind hit the huge Volcanic island,which forces the wind upwards
which the cools Which then condensation occurs bring rain
- There is much rainfall on the middle-age island, then trees gain large moisture
from the clouds and then it trickles down the tree and into the soil forming these
pools of water which helps other plants get water.
 14. What adaptations have the Scalesia trees evolved to survive in the Galapagos Islands?
- There is a commensalistic relationship between the tree and the plant allowing both
species to Survive and thrive off the environment. The lichen protects the tree from the
harsh sun and dries up but still protecting the plant.

15. In what way do Scalesia trees modify the environment to create extra niches or habitats
for other species?
- The tree did not have to modify the environments to create a region for other species. The
lichen doesn't need nutrients; it already Undergoes photosynthesis. The lichen just needs
water but with no moisture or water it leads to the lichen dries up.

16. How does the “life cycle” of volcanic oceanic islands like the Galapagos Islands increase
the diversity of the biota of the archipelago as a whole?

The life cycle of the volcanic oceanic island has increased its biodiversity of the biota of
the archipelago through evolution. The Volcanic rocky islands that are young with no life
and no ability for plants to survive but iguanas. But there are islands that are full of trees
and life that support a rich biodiversity. But the heavy island volcano has gone through
many years of rain and harsh weather. It starts to erode and the green island becomes
rocky, they also provide nutrient rich soils. This soil goes to the sea which helps grow
underwater biodiversity. Even when the island is eroding it still has the ability to sustain
an ecosystem.

Video 3. Evolution

17. How was isolation achieved at Wolf Crater on the Galapagos Islands?

isolation was achieved at the wolf crater on the galapagos island was achieved through
the movement of the island and there are very far away and has achieved the isolation
because it takes a while for the islands to move away from the vents
 The wolf crater stopped erupting, forming a hard rocky ground,the crater is right through
the healthy vegetation. It is impassable and most tortoises die when crossing over. It has
cut through the population of the tortoises causing an isolation of the species.

18. What is the biogeographical term for the process of division of 1 population into 2
populations and the subsequent speciation of those populations into 2 species as
happened at Wolf Crater?
- speciation is the formation of two species from one original species. Darwin had first
documented the processes of speciation. There are two different forms of speciation.
There is allopatric speciation which is the geographic separation of one population into
two. Sympatric speciation involves the parent's remaining at one location and speciation
occurring.
19. Tortoises have different shaped shells on different islands. Why?

Tortoises have different shaped shells on different islands that have to undergo natural
selection. The original tortoises had a hard shell back that allowed them to move through
the large vegetation. But on another galapagos island which is still in the early stages has
no vegetation but Cactuses. This made it hard for the hard back tortoises to get food. So
through evaluation and natural selection the shell shape changes to form a peak for
example. All the islands have different tortoiseshell sizes.

20. What is the term for the diversification of one finch into 13 different species?
Adaptive radiation is the term for the diversification of one flinch into 13 different
species.

21. In what way did the finches on the Galapagos Islands show their adaptation to fill
different niches? How do these adaptations allow them to do this?
 The finches on the Galapagos Island show their adaptation to fill different niches through
evolution and speciation. They had to adapt into these different diets and the different
environments and habitats. They had beaks of different sizes due to evolution at natural
selection.

22. Did colonizing species on newly created islands in the Galapagos Islands all come from
South America or Central America? Where else did they come from?

It is noted that some come from, both south and central america, they also come from the
other islands as they colonise the different islands they can undergo speciation to evade
into different species.

23. How do Lava Lizards differ between different islands? How do these differences make it
impossible for the different species to interbreed?
Differ in the way they look and how they communicate, the maces come out to compete
with other males for a female. They can't interbreed with one another.

24. Why are there more different species of snails in the Galapagos Islands than any other
animals?
There are more different species of snails on the Galapagos islands this is due to the
different micro-Climate that is seen in the different habitats. Black rock species versus a
cave,wide mouth is well water versus a dry island with a small month to stop the loss of
water. This is due to the small predator numbers which usually keeps the carrying
capacities at bay.

25. Why are there such a great number of new species evolved in such a short time in the
Galapagos Islands?
 There is such a great number of new species evolving in such a short time on the
Galapagos island mainly because the Galapagos island is constantly changing from the
original structure of the island. Galapagos island is on a large volcanic pool which
constantly erupts, the earth crust has been noted to be shifting away from the volcano
vent and when they move away from the vent they start to become more rock hard. there
is also the formation of trees and also the migration of birds and different species of with
the ever changing island topography this leads to the species on the island being able to
change and adapt into the

26. Why are there no large predators on the Galapagos Islands?

There aren't large predators on the Galapagos islands, because the predators are much
larger species and the Galapagos islands favores smaller species. Also the islands are so
large and there aren't many predators that hunt down different species except certain birds
who try to eat the crab on the shores but there aren't many that stay. Also there are
predators like snakes which are present on the smaller islands; they feed on small species
of insects that are on the rocky island of fernandina. There are some predatory birds like
hawks that hurt the iguana,they are quite large. Many of the predators came from South
America like reptiles, but these large species like jungars would have died out at sea.