Galapagos Atlas details island biodiversity and ongoing research
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The Darwin Foundation released a new Galapagos Atlas documenting the biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection.
The atlas profiles 68 species and species groups, including well-known animals like giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and Darwin’s finches, as well as lesser-known plants and insects.
A team of 87 scientists, park rangers, and conservationists created the freely available atlas, detailing existing knowledge about each species while also noting gaps in understanding regarding their ecology, behavior, and conservation. Rakan Zahawi, executive director of the Darwin Foundation, explained that the atlas serves as a resource for further scientific exploration, providing citations for those interested in researching specific species.
The Galapagos Islands currently host around 1,500 introduced species, with over 60 classified as invasive and disrupting the native ecosystems. Zahawi hopes the atlas will increase awareness among visitors and locals about the risk of introducing new invasive species. Future editions of the atlas will likely include more species and be published in both English and Spanish, according to editor-in-chief Gustavo Jiménez.
