20061023
WEEK EIGHT
Endemic House // Resources
Created from a volcanic hot spot located on the ocean floor, the Galapagos are oceanic islands which have never been connected to a continent. All of the organisms found in the Galapagos arrived in the islands by swimming, flying or floating. [..]
Species had 3 methods of arrival in the islands, marine life including whales, dolphins, fish, seals and penguins arrived by swimming along with the currents. Birds arrived by flying as did many seeds, mosses orchids and ferns, which arrived by air currents rather than actual flight. Other species like tortoises, iguanas, trees, insects, and some seeds arrived by floating either due to a built-in air chamber or by floating on trees and other plants.
Once these species arrived the islands became populated with an unbalanced collection of species; the presence of reptiles but no amphibians, numerous birds but few mammals, grasses and ferns but hardly any plants with large flowers or heavy seeds. [..]
Many species found it necessary to adapt to the environment in order to survive. As the years progressed and adaptations occurred new species and subspecies began to populate the islands. The lack of natural predators allowed many species to flourish and eventually give the Galapagos their unique make up.
Galapagos Info
501 Project Three
Species and Ecosystems
Endemic defined
Lizard show
Galapagos film
.: Jonas 8:00 PM
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