Climate Change in Galapagos

The effects of change in global climate and El Niño* events can be frequent and intense could severely impact ecosystem function and the natural recuperation of living communities in the terrestrial and marine systems. could cause shifts in global resources, markets, and economies that will influence livelihoods of Galapagos inhabitants. * An El Niño is a temporary change in the climate of the Pacific ocean, in the region around the equator. It affects in both the ocean and atmosphere. Typically, the ocean surface warms up by a few degrees celsius. At the same time, the place where hefty thunderstorms occur on the equator moves eastward. Although those might seem like small differences, it can have big effects on the world's climate.

Scientists in Galapagos are studying the ties between climate, biodiversity and the human element. They are analyzing the adaptability of Galapagos to climate change and working to predict the ecosystem response to changes in the frequency and strength of El Niño events, rainfall patterns, increases in sea temperature, sea level change, and acidification of the world’s oceans.

Serious questions remain to be answered How will the Galapagos ecosystem respond to climate change? Which endemic species or communities are most vulnerable and which require the most protection? How will invasive species, one of the most significant threats to Galapagos, respond to climate change and affect system resilience and alter conservation priorities?

Scientists’ expectations Scientists that Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, and mangrove stands are particularly susceptible to climate change. Land-based reptiles adapted to arid conditions, some of which have temperature dependent sex determination, will also be studied.

Dr. Stuart Banks discusses marine research in Galapagos. Dr. Stuart Banks has been working with Charles Darwin Foundation in Galapagos for 8 years on marine conservation issues. ( 1.46 minutes)