Galapagos Matters Spring Summer 2020 by Galapagos Conservation Trust

GALAPAGOSMATTERS

SPRING | SUMMER 2020

Hybridisation MARINE INVASIVES Garbology

galapagosconservation.org.uk

GALAPAGOSMAT TERS CONTENTS

Cover Land iguanas are coldblooded and so absorb heat from the sun by basking on volcanic rock. © Kate Lindsay

4-5 6-7 8-11 12 13

16-18 Garbology

Wild Galapagos

This emerging field of contemporary archaeology is being used to analyse the life history of plastic items washing up in Galapagos. Dr John Schofield explains how to trace an object’s life story.

Galapagos News Hybridisation

Land and marine iguanas co-exist on various islands in Galapagos, however, hybrid species have now been reported. Dr Luis Ortiz-Catedral explores the theories around these unusual creatures with delightful illustrations from John Bendon, who shares diary entries from his own time on the Islands studying marine iguanas.

UK News

19 20

Marine Invasives

Jessica Howard explores the ever-growing risk of marine invasives travelling via the ocean to Galapagos and the policies in place to keep these species out.

14-15 Project Updates

Restoring Floreana

Karl Campbell and GCT’s Andy Donnelly discuss how our Restoring Floreana programme is advancing the toolkit for removing invasive species on other islands worldwide.

Global Relevance

Naima Andrea López describes the importance of non-destructive sampling methods when researching ocean wildlife and the baited remote underwater video systems, or BRUVS, now being deployed.

21-23 Membership, Reviews, Events and Merchandise

CONTRIBUTORS

Dr Luis Ortiz-Catedral is a lecturer in Environmental Science/Ecology at Massey University, New Zealand. Luis supports the conservation management of Galapagos as a science advisor for the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park. His research focuses on the Floreana mockingbird, Galapagos land iguana, and Galapagos racer snake.

GALAPAGOS MAT TERS

John Bendon is an illustrator, author and photographer who has worked with iguanas for over 35 years, on many iguana projects in various locations around the world, including Galapagos. He uses photographs to create drawings showing the exact scale configuration of each species.

Jess Howard is a marine biologist who worked in the Galapagos Islands as a researcher within the marine plastic and invasive species team at the Charles Darwin Foundation. Having moved back to the UK, she is now studying with the Science Communication Unit in Bristol.

Professor John Schofield is an archaeologist at the University of York, having previously spent 21 years with English Heritage. John’s research interests focus on the application of archaeological methods to the challenges of the contemporary world, such as marine plastic pollution.

Karl Campbell is Latin America executive director at Island Conservation and has been managing island restoration projects for over 20 years. Karl is currently working on the Restoring Floreana project, supported by GCT. This is one of the largest, and most complex eradication projects conducted on an inhabited tropical island, aiming to reintroduce locally extinct species to Floreana island.

Naima Andrea López is a marine biologist from Spain. Always captivated by marine predators she joined the Marine Futures Lab at the University of Western Australia in 2019 to start her PhD studying ecology of highly migratory oceanic sharks and better ways to protect these species.

FROM THE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE by Sharon Johnson

alapagos has always been at the forefront of worldwide conservation. As the first ever UNESCO World Heritage Site established in 1978, the world looks to Galapagos for cutting edge science and conservation work. Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) has been supporting this work for 25 years, helping protect one of the most pristine archipelagos in the world, famed for its unique biodiversity.

2020 is set to be no different as we embark on our new three-year strategy to tackle the greatest threats facing the Islands today. Invasive species, the increasing human footprint and climate change are impacting the sensitive ecological balance of the Islands. We are organising our programmes within three clear themes to ensure we address these threats: Restoring Natural Habitats, Protecting Threatened Species and Driving Sustainable Solutions. Building upon the success of the last strategic period we will continue to deliver our two flagship programmes within these themes, Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos and Restoring Floreana. Karl Campbell gives an update on how this programme is advancing on Floreana (p.19) and innovating the toolkit for removing invasive species on other islands worldwide. Our Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos article discusses the emerging field of contemporary archaeology, known as Garbology (p.16-18). This is being used to

analyse the life history of plastic items washing up in Galapagos, to help pinpoint where and why they ended up in the ocean and how they later reached the Archipelago. As the global leader in marine biosecurity, Galapagos has some of the tightest measures in place in the world preventing an influx of other unwanted non-native species. On page 13, Jessica Howard explores the increasing risk of marine invasives entering the Islands via the ocean and the maritime policies in place to keep these species out. Dr Luis Ortiz-Catedral, a GCT partner on our Galapagos Land Iguana Project, explores the new inter-species hybridisation of the land and marine iguanas found on South Plaza (p.8) and the theories surrounding them. The piece contains beautiful illustrations by the talented John Bendon, who has shared diary entries from his own time studying marine iguanas on Santa Cruz. Our Spring Appeal (p.10) will be raising funds for the iconic

and highly endangered pink land iguana, only found on the slopes of Wolf Volcano on Isabela. There is still so much to learn about this unusual species that is synonymous with the Galapagos Islands. I am sure many of you watched GCT’s President, Monty Halls in his latest adventures in series two of Channel 4’s ‘My Family and the Galapagos’. The Halls family met many of GCT’s partners striving to protect the Galapagos Islands, and discovered how Galapagos is inspiring other places on earth to find solutions to the increasing threats they face. I very much hope you will be inspired by what you saw in the programme, and what you read in this magazine, and you will continue to support our critical work to protect the Enchanted Isles.

Sharon Johnson Chief Executive

Galapagos Matters is a copyright biannual publication produced for members of the Galapagos Conservation Trust. The information in this issue was ISSN 2050-6074 Galapagos Matters Designer: Verity Ramsay obtained from various sources, all is printed on paper made from well Printer: Bishops Printers of which have extensive knowledge managed forests and controlled Charles Darwin Suite, of Galapagos, but neither GCT nor sources. 28 Portland Place, London W1B 1LY the contributors are responsible Editor: Henry Nicholls 020 7399 7440 for the accuracy of the contents Chief Executive: Sharon Johnson gct@gct.org or the opinions expressed herein. Communications and Marketing www.galapagosconservation.org.uk Manager: Verity Ramsay

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GALAPAGOS MAT TERS

WILD GALAPAGOS Galapagos sea lions bond with their young for a week after birth, the mother soon able to distinguish the call of her own pup from those of others in the colony. She then starts to forage by day and suckle the pup in the evening, until the fifth week when the pup moults its baby coat and begins to feed inshore. Pups are still dependent on their mothers for the first year of their life, being weaned when they reach eleven to twelve months old. This photo of a curious pup was taken by Nicole Marshall. Do you have any unique photos of the Galapagos Islands and its wildlife? Then enter them into our 2020 Galapagos Photography Competition! See more details on page 23.

SPRING | SUMMER 2020

GALAPAGOS

NEWS

DESCENDANTS OF EXTINCT SPECIES FOUND

tortoise with Pinta island tortoise ancestry has been found on Wolf Volcano. The species is well known due to the fame of Lonesome George, the last known individual of the species who passed away in 2012. A team from the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative (GTRI), a program implemented by Galapagos Conservancy and the Galapagos National Park Directorate, travelled to Wolf volcano on Isabela for a ten day expedition in January and returned with 30 hybrid giant tortoises with partial lineage of the Chelonoidis abingdonii and Chelonoidis niger tortoise species, both considered extinct on Pinta and Floreana islands, respectively. Of the tortoises identified, 29 are descended from the extinct Floreana lineage. The other tortoise, a young female, has an abundance of genes characteristic of the species that once thrived on Pinta (Lonesome George’s island).

t the end of last year, field worker Freddy Cabrera from the Galapagos Tortoise Movement Ecology Programme (GTMEP) received an award from the Charles Darwin Foundation for ten years of commitment and dedication to the conservation of Galapagos tortoises. GTMEP, an organisation supported by GCT, has collected many years of data demonstrating the migration pathways of Galapagos giant tortoises. GTMEP is now aiming to establish the overall health of tortoise species across a gradient of human modified landscapes, including investigating the presence of antimicrobial bacteria in the gut of giant tortoises. Thank you Freddy for your hard work over the last ten years and congratulations on your award!

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

TEN YEARS OF TORTOISE WORK

REMEMBERING DR. HENDRIK HOECK

e were extremely sad to hear the news in November that Dr Hendrik Hoeck, founder and president of the Swiss Association of Friends of the Galapagos Islands, had passed away after losing his battle with cancer. Hendrik was a passionate advocate for Galapagos, who spent decades working toward the long-term conservation © Dr Simon Pierce of these unique Islands.

SHARKS RECLASSIFIED

here was good and bad news for Galapagos sharks at the end of 2019 as thousands of species were reassessed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. We were sad to see that the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) has been upgraded to Critically Endangered. However, the Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) is now listed as Least Concern. You can donate to GCT’s Endangered Sharks of Galapagos Programme online at galapagosconservation. org.uk/endangered-sharks-of-galapagos.

MARTI MIXES WITH THE STARS

e were so pleased to see world-renowned biologist, Dr Sylvia Earle and Max Bello from The Pew Charitable Trust, enjoying our storybook, Marti the Hammerhead Shark, during Sylvia’s trip to Galapagos last autumn. In this beautifully illustrated story, we join Marti, a young scalloped hammerhead shark, on her first migration from her home in the Galapagos Islands to Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Following the launch of our storybook in the UK in 2019, we have now translated it into Spanish and sent it to the Islands to be enjoyed by the children of Galapagos too. It was at the launch of the Spanish edition on San Cristobal where the legendary Martin Clunes OBE was spotted enjoying the storybook too. We hope the book will help inspire the next generation of ocean conservationists. To buy your copy of Marti the Hammerhead Shark: A Galapagos Journey storybook, please visit our online shop at galapagosconservation.org.uk/shop

GALAPAGOS, HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

he Charles Darwin Foundation has released a documentary film called ‘Galapagos, Hope for the Future’, about the organisation and the work of the Galapagos National Park. The documentary, directed by Evert Van Den Bos, a Dutch director and producer, highlights the work currently underway in Galapagos and the importance of continuing to support the conservation of the Islands. The film, which is narrated by Ronan Keating, tells the story of passionate researchers who are committed to protect and conserve this unique, but fragile, ecosystem. As well as being screened in cinemas across Ecuador, the film was screened free of charge for the local Galapagos community, in November at the Miguel Cifuentes Community Centre on Santa Cruz.

VOLCANIC ERUPTION

volcanic eruption took place on 12 January 2020 on Fernandina volcano (often referred to as La Cumbre). The eruption took place from a fissure close to the summit on its eastern side and was preceded by an increase in earthquake activity. This increase in activity meant that scientists and the Galapagos National Park were aware of a likely eruption. Fernandina is the most active volcano in Galapagos and, on average, has an eruption every three years. The last few years have seen slightly higher activity with eruptions in 2017, 2018 and 2020. However, this is not unusual and is not expected to represent a fundamental change in the system. As with most activity on Fernandina, the January eruption was small, producing a cloud of volcanic gas, which could be seen by nearby boats and on neighbouring islands. Lava flows stretched down the east flank of the volcano, though did not reach the ocean. Any risk to humans was low due to there being no settlements on Fernandina and the wind carried the gas plume away from the populated islands (Isabela, Santa Cruz, Floreana and San Cristobal). The environmental risk was slightly higher, with other recent eruptions on Fernandina causing significant fires which can cause habitat damage. Fernandina is one of the best monitored volcanoes in Galapagos, along with Sierra Negra which is located on Isabela.

CONCERN OVER “OIL SPILL” INCIDENT

n 23 December, it was reported that an oil spill had taken place on the island of San Cristobal after a barge overturned while being loaded with a container, which led to a crane falling into the water. An operation to refloat and extract the 40-foot container was successfully implemented by the San Cristobal Municipal Government and Galapagos Governing Council. Despite dramatic news coverage of the incident, the extraction of the container, holding an electric transformer carrying 400 gallons of oil in its tank, came out complete. The Emergency Operations Committee, chaired by Minister Norman Wray remains active and continues to work to reduce and mitigate any impact on the San Cristobal marine ecosystem.

SPRING | SUMMER 2020

WELCOME TO THE HYBRID ZONE by Dr Luis Ortiz-Catedral

ince the early 1980s a number of unusual-looking iguanas has been noticed on South Plaza island, an apparent cross between land and marine iguanas. But why are there hybrids of these species?

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

Among animals, a species can be loosely defined as a collective of individuals that can mate and produce viable offspring, and that is reproductively isolated from other populations. Reproductive isolation is the line in the sand, the boundary that defines a species as a biological unit. The theory suggests that there are morphological and behavioural features that keep individuals from mating with the “wrong” species. After all, mating is expensive, and mating with the wrong individual is likely to affect an individual’s reproductive success and even survival. Take for instance the elaborate dances of blue-footed boobies: when a pair of these colourful birds engages in courtship dances, both individuals assess the quality of their partner, but also, the accuracy of the moves. If a booby belonging to a different species were to dance in front of a blue-footed individual with the intention of mating, chances are its efforts would go unnoticed or, worse even, the individual

might be chased off or injured. Nevertheless, there are plenty of examples that show the line in the sand is sometimes crossed. In fact, hybrid offspring can end up giving rise to a new subspecies or even species, a lineage that is distinct from either of the parental species. The mockingbirds of Genovesa island (Mimus parvulus bauri) appear to be a case in point, where their genetic makeup strongly suggests there was once interbreeding between the San Cristobal mockingbird (M. melanotis) and another mockingbird species from the northwest of the Archipelago (M. parvulus). In spite of their hybrid ancestry, Genovesa mockingbirds seem happy reproducing amongst themselves and produce healthy, fertile offspring. The same is true for the finches of Daphne Major, where Peter and Rosemary Grant have repeatedly seen hybridisations between finches from different Geospiza species. Over the last 20 years, it has also emerged that many

Although it is a remarkable phenomenon, it is incredibly rare.

ÂŠ John Bendon

Hybrid iguanas have only been found on South Plaza island The only illustrations of hybrid iguanas are those by artist John Bendon based on his own trip to South Plaza island

ÂŠ John Bendon

of the giant tortoises, particularly those on Wolf Volcano on Isabela, are hybrids or the descendants of hybrids (see p. 6). A less well known but no less striking example of inter-species hybridisation has been observed between the land iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus) and marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) on the small uplifted island of South Plaza. These crosses were first noted in 1981 and formerly described in 1997. Since then rangers from the Galapagos National Park and tour guides have reported a handful of other instances of iguana hybridisation. The hybrids have a very distinctive colouration, a blend of dirty yellow and dark grey, and boast dorsal head scales that are intermediate between the two parental species. Genetic analysis of these peculiar individuals confirms that they are indeed hybrids, with a 50:50 mix of land iguana and marine iguana DNA. What is less clear is why these hybrids have only ever been seen on South Plaza, even though there are plenty of other islands

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IGUANAS where land iguanas and marine iguanas live alongside each other. It may be because this is such a small island – only 200m across at its widest point – that there is just more opportunity for the two iguana species to interact. There are other mysteries too, like whether these hybrid offspring feed exclusively on land vegetation. No hybrids have been seen venturing into the water, which suggests that metabolically, they might be closer to land iguanas. It is also the case that every South Plaza hybrid that’s been studied appears to be the offspring of a male marine iguana and a female land iguana, rather than the other way round. The explanation for this observation remains unclear, though there are two main hypotheses. In both marine iguanas and land iguanas, males are territorial and display elaborate head-bobbing and posturing to communicate dominance to their fellow males and to attract females. With a hierarchy established, the most dominant males get to control a small group of females and prevent other males from mating with them. In marine iguanas, however, less dominant males may still be able to obtain some

paternity by adopting a “satellite” strategy, hanging out at some distance from the main group and sneaking a copulation with one of the females should the chance arise. The appearance of hybrid iguanas on South Plaza could be explained if these satellite marine males occasionally direct their efforts at female land iguanas instead. Alternatively, hybridisation could be the result of female choice, with some female land iguanas actively choosing to mate with male marine iguanas with the most exaggerated displays. Although we don’t yet understand exactly how these hybrids come about, they appear to be infertile, so unlike the Genovesa mockingbirds, the finches of Daphne Major or the giant tortoises on Isabela, the South Plaza hybrids cannot pass on their mixed-up genes to subsequent generations so could never give rise to a new subspecies or species. Nevertheless, they are still of great interest to science, individuals that seem to embody the processes of divergence for which Galapagos has become famous. On your next visit to South Plaza, make sure you ask your tour guide about these one-off iguanas and if you’re lucky, you might even see one.

Below left: a land iguana species and below right a marine iguana species.

PINK LAND IGUANA APPEAL

hen you think of iconic reptiles, you think of the Galapagos Islands. The Islands’ most famous resident is of course the Galapagos giant tortoise, in fact, the very word ‘Galapagos’ derives from an old Spanish word for tortoises. Other well-loved Galapagos reptiles include the land and marine iguanas, but did you know that Galapagos is also home to a pink land iguana?

Only recently described as a separate species, the Galapagos pink land iguana, said to be a favourite of Sir David Attenborough, is now on the brink of extinction. There are only around 200 individuals left, and they are confined to the slopes of Wolf Volcano on Isabela, making them one of the most threatened species in Galapagos, as the volcano is still active. GCT is supporting scientists looking to learn more about these rare and special creatures and implement conservation measures to protect them.

Please donate today to protect the pink land iguana. You can do so by using the form on the back page, visiting our website, or contacting the office on 020 7399 7440.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

IGUANAS

THE IGUANA FILES

BY JOHN BENDON

ohn Bendon spent ten weeks over two years in Galapagos, mostly on Santa Cruz, where he wandered from beach to beach watching the marine iguanas, photographing them and writing about the behaviours he witnessed. The photos were studied and copied in pen and ink, as accurately as possible and used to assess any differences between subspecies, of which there are now at least eleven. Below are snapshots written by John of the iguanas’ daily life on a beach in Santa Cruz.

4 November: It is difficult to figure out an optimum time to observe iguanas in action, if action is the word for it. There are several stages in their day: get up; walk towards the sea; eat; crawl back; dry off; and go to sleep. From what I could tell, after an entire day, this happens twice a day as does the high and low tides. However, November is mating time here, the males are reddish and blotchy, aggressive and pretty active. I often note big reds sitting alone, and a few feet away were a group of females, big reds’ harems.

5 November: Finally figured out the tides here. Also the routine which, I suppose, will shift according to the tides. The order of the day seems to be: wake up; get warm; crawl to the water. If high tide, the heavier ones may dive and eat; if low tide, all sizes can graze on exposed, wet rocks. After eating, crawl to a rock and dry out and digest; sleep; wake up; do it again. This would appear to be twice a day. Around 5pm they crawl inland a little, to the Sesuvium and by 6pm it is bedtime and they magically vanish. 13 November: It was a drizzly day again, to get worse later. I discovered at the end of the day that the sea had come up the boat ramp in the town and had flooded the main street. The tide was noisy, and ramming into the rocks and pounding the shores, coming higher than normal. I made for the place where I usually see the most iguanas. They were all in the one place today, not much rock left to dry out on and not much dry air anyway. The iguanas and their females were dotted around, males all on their larger rocks. The colony had split into groups and each group had one red male, their Boss. I have now spotted the Big Boss, for the first time, more orange/red than the other ones. He started strutting around, glaring at all the others and opening and closing his mouth, furiously nodding. Saliva was hanging off his jaw. I walked back along the path through the Sesuvium and saw a hole, not facing downwards but along, like a tunnel entrance. I was able to shine the flashlight into the hole, revealing a Sesuvium ‘cave’. Peering through it I saw several grey juvenile iguanas, all wrapped around both each other and a larger female.

15 November: I decided to do more investigating into the lizards’ places of rest. Now knowing what to look for, I found whole sets of ‘homes’. As I stared and scrutinized the Sesuvium, a kind of ‘township’ came into view. Walking along the track between the lava rocks and the vegetation, looking again at those tunnels and domes, and I come across a hole. Inside this hole were two large back feet and two small legs and feet. This was Mr and Mrs Lizard’s house for sure. Not all species of iguanas have ‘families’. In fact it is the adults that stay together, the young ones go off to be Bosses or part of a harem. I have seen ‘families’ here where there are young ones in the same hole. Some meet, couple up, and go their different ways. These observations are specific to this beach. There is a lot of vegetation here. At other areas, with only beach and rocks, the lifestyle would be different, for instance do they have specific places to sleep at night? Do they form groups? There is endless information and fun arising from watching these marine iguanas. I hope to return here again and I know this colony will be here, waiting for me.

John is a member of the IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist Group that works in conjunction with the International Iguana Foundation which kindly supported the marine iguana plastics risk assessment as part of GCT’s Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos programme. This piece is based purely on John’s observations and opinions, all iguana species have their own behaviour and lifestyle.

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NEWS SAVING DARWIN’S BIRDS W

e were delighted to partner with Dr Sarah Darwin, one of Charles Darwin’s great-great-granddaughters, on our endangered land birds appeal to shine a light on the threats facing these birds in Galapagos. This collective group, which include finches and mockingbirds, and fondly known as “Darwin’s birds”, first grew to fame due to Charles Darwin’s visit in 1835 and his subsequent theory of evolution by natural selection. Approximately 80% of the birds found in Galapagos are endemic and therefore cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Devastatingly, nearly half of these are now at risk of extinction (according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species). Dr Sarah Darwin said, “As an Ambassador of Galapagos Conservation Trust, I am aware of the incredibly important work that the Trust has undertaken since it was launched almost 25 years ago. I have been fortunate to visit the Galapagos Islands on several occasions, as part of my work as an artist and scientist. I observed many of these land birds at close quarters whilst undertaking fieldwork in Galapagos, some eating the very plants which I was trying to study! I can see the pressing need for urgent action to protect them in their native habitat”. Supporters who donated £300 or more to the appeal will receive a limited edition print, signed by Dr Sarah Darwin, of her Galapagos botanical illustrations undertaken for Nigel Sitwell’s field guide. You can find out more about our work with land birds and donate online at galapagosconservation.org.uk/ land-birds-of-galapagos

MY FAMILY AND THE GALAPAGOS A

fter the success of its first series in 2018, a follow up series of ‘My Family and the Galapagos’ aired on Channel 4 in February. The show, which was filmed during the summer of 2019, stars GCT’s President Monty Halls and his family as they explore some of the pressing issues facing Galapagos and visiting some of GCT’s projects. The Halls family will join some of the conservationists and scientists striving to protect the Galapagos Islands, including some of GCT’s science partners, and discovering how Galapagos is inspiring solutions that could help the whole planet. If you missed it, you can catch up on channel4.com.

TRIP TO GALAPAGOS SCHOOLS

REMEMBERING DAVID BELLAMY OBE

n October 2019, our Education Writer Sarah Langford visited the Islands to take part in an exciting education initiative. Currently in its third year the Education for Sustainability program (ESG) was launched by Galapagos Conservancy and Ecuador’s Ministry of Education. The programme works with all teachers and school leaders across the Archipelago to develop the skills required to deliver quality Education for Sustainability lessons throughout their schools. In addition to providing valuable material and resources for use during workshop activities, we were able to gain insight into the workings of a Galapagos classroom and how we can best support the next exciting wave of training workshops this year.

e were greatly saddened by the loss of Professor David Bellamy OBE in December. Our first President, David was present at the launch of GCT in April 1995, along with Sir David Attenborough, and was a great supporter of the charity throughout his life. David was a fantastic environmental campaigner and naturalist and will be sorely missed by the whole conservation community.

orrection: In an infographic outlining invasive species in Galapagos (page 11, Autumn /Winter 19 issue of Galapagos Matters), we referred to the research ‘Alien species pathways to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador’ by Toral-Granda et al. (2017). We stated that 4,310 tourists were arriving in Galapagos every day but in fact, there were 4,310 tourists present in Galapagos each day. We apologise for this error.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

UNDERWATER INVADERS G

alapagos is leading the charge in marine biosecurity, with one of the most stringent programmes in the world. But, with increasing challenges facing the endemic species of Galapagos, is the ecological door open for marine invasive species to move in? by Jessica Howard An invasive species is any living organism that has travelled into an environment in which it isn’t found naturally, causing harm to the local environment, economy or human health. The effects on local populations are wildly unpredictable, but they often disturb native populations either through predation, competition for space and food, or by introducing unfamiliar diseases. The geographic remoteness of the Galapagos Islands has naturally limited the arrival of new species, giving the animals and plants there the opportunity to evolve in relative isolation, without much competition or predation to worry about. This has resulted in some amazing adaptations that are unique to the Islands, like the endemic algaemunching marine iguana. However, this has left the native species of Galapagos vulnerable to invasions, as they have few natural defences. As such, invasive species are the ultimate threat to Galapagos wildlife, but with most of the awareness surrounding terrestrial invasions, we’re going to dive under the waves to explore the lesser known world of marine invasive species. The ocean has always been a dispersal mechanism for non-native species, and through swimming, following currents, or hitching a ride on anything that floats, these species have found new coastlines in which to flourish. Since humans began traversing the oceans, organisms have found more opportunities to stow away, travelling faster and further around the world. With increasing tourism and a booming local population, ship traffic to the Islands must also increase, bringing food and other goods to the community. Unfortunately, this is how most non-native species infiltrate new marine environments.

Ships can introduce new species through ballast water, which can be full of whatever traumatised species got sucked up where the ship was loaded. They can also piggy-back on the outside of boats, either by permanently attaching or by hiding in nooks and crannies, and by hitch-hiking a ride on anything else that floats. These species can also attach to wood, algae, and of increasing concern, plastic pollution. This enables them to travel for even greater distances, as ocean plastic seems to be one of the only habitats that we are not destroying. In the midst of the climate crisis, natural barriers in water temperature (which have previously limited the spread of non-native species) are breaking down, leaving invasive species better poised to exploit and populate new habitats where they once wouldn’t have been able to. This, when paired with El Niño events potentially increasing in frequency and intensity, will challenge the survival of native species, making them even more susceptible to invasions. In a recent study from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Williams College and the Charles Darwin Foundation, scientists found 53 non-native marine species living around the Islands, when previously we knew of just five. This study was limited to only one habitat (harbours), between two islands, suggesting that the actual numbers of invasive species could be considerably higher. The alien species included worms, crabs and mussels, which were observed burrowing into living coral colonies in Galapagos. In 2012, the Charles Darwin Foundation initiated the marine invasive species project, a large-scale monitoring project targeting marine invasive species in Galapagos. The project, spearheaded by Dr Inti Keith,

has developed an early detection scheme through continuous monitoring of settlement plates in Ecuador as well as in Galapagos, devices that allow the controlled collection of data on colonisation by new species. The team is also monitoring a wellestablished invasive alga, Caulerpa racemosa, which is especially dangerous for corals, as the rapid-growing algae may smother them if growth rates increase. Policy changes have been implemented to prevent future invasions, with every international vessel that enters the Archipelago inspected by divers for nonnative species. If they find any the ship is asked to leave and have its hull cleaned before returning for a second inspection. The generation of a central ‘cargo hub’ has been introduced to consolidate the threat of marine bioinvasions to just two areas of the Archipelago. A third recommendation is that ballast water should not be released in Galapagos, unless it has been exchanged at sea beforehand. Despite these advances, the risk of marine invasive species remains high. The two biggest and most likely threats at the moment are thought to be the Indopacific lionfish, which may spread from the Caribbean through the Panama Canal and reach Galapagos, where it’s likely to be very successful. Another possible arrival is the snowflake coral, which has already caused widespread death of native corals along the South American coastline. Now that we have a better understanding of what invasive species have already established themselves in Galapagos, the next steps will be to figure out how they are affecting native populations and how we can prevent further introductions.

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PROJECT

UPDATES

DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF BLACK MANGROVE DIEBACK IN CRITICAL MANGROVE FINCH HABITAT

ince 2014, GCT has partnered with the Charles Darwin Foundation in a bid to save the Critically Endangered mangrove finch (Camarhynchus heliobates). Habitat loss combined with the presence of introduced black rats (Rattus rattus) and the invasive parasitic fly (Philornis downsi), for which the birds have no natural defence against, has driven the species to the brink of extinction. However, thanks to the extraordinary conservation efforts of the Mangrove Finch Project team, including rat control, intensive hand rearing of chicks and Philornis control in wild nests (injecting nests with an insecticide), the population estimates have grown significantly from 60 birds in 2014 to 100 birds today. Once found across sites on Isabela and Fernandina, Mangrove finch populations are now restricted to just two small patches of mangrove on Isabela; Playa Tortuga Negra and Caleta Black. These tiny strongholds are the species’ last hope at survival in the wild. Each year, researchers spend two-three months in the field during the breeding season, collecting important population data, such as the number of breeding pairs and re-sightings of captive reared individuals. During fieldwork in 2019 however, the team noticed significant die back of black mangroves (Avicennia germinans), the preferred tree for nesting, at Playa Tortuga Negra. This site is home to the largest breeding population of mangrove finches, and moth larvae in the fallen seeds from black mangroves provide an important food source during the breeding season. With 90% of the trees sampled by the team affected, there is real cause for concern. Why this is happening and whether the trees are capable of making a full recovery is still unknown. Additionally, a boring beetle (Xyleborinus andrewesi – previously unrecorded in Galapagos) was found in high numbers in the affected black mangroves as well as in the trunk samples. However, expert consensus members of the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group do not believe the beetle is the root cause of the problem, but rather the black mangroves are likely already stressed by

an environmental factor that has made them more susceptible to damage. Thankfully, we know from the population in Caleta Black that mangrove finches can survive in the absence of black mangroves, but the loss of their preferred nesting tree coupled with the existing pressures on the population could have further negative impacts. Therefore, assessment of what is driving the tree mortality is a priority in 2020. Leading mangrove habitat specialist Dr. Ilka Feller from the Smithsonian Institution will join the mangrove finch team during their field season this year, to help establish methods for baseline environmental monitoring of the mangroves. Monitoring will be repeated in 2021, and beyond, to improve understanding of what is driving the die back as well as the scale and any impacts on other mangrove species. The data produced will inform long-term planning for mangrove finch conservation. Environmental factors, many of them due to climate change, already have a huge impact on mangrove finch reproduction and nesting success. For example, dry conditions in the breeding season can limit food availability and the number of females obtaining breeding condition or even abandoning their chicks. In 2018 and 2019 in particular, a lack of regular rainfall resulted in a low number of breeding pairs and birds with reduced body mass. It is vital that these remaining habitats are healthy in order for the mangrove finch to survive in the wild. Along with their continued population monitoring and conservation efforts, 2020 marks the start of an essential new chapter of research for the Mangrove Finch Project.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

SHARK NURSERY SURVEYS AROUND SAN CRISTOBAL U

nder the umbrella of our Endangered Sharks of Galapagos programme, GCT aims to ensure that sharks are protected within the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) at every stage of their lives. Increased tourist activity and incidental bycatch by local artisanal fisheries pose a particular threat to juvenile sharks born in the shallow mangrove lagoons around the Islands. Since the end of 2018, we have been supporting research based at the Galapagos Science Center to confirm that suspected blacktip and scalloped hammerhead nursery sites located around San Cristobal are in fact ‘true’ nursery sites, in order to establish additional protections for the young sharks with the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park. Using a combination of drone and net surveys, results to date have revealed that the suspected nursery sites have significantly higher numbers of young sharks compared to other sites around the island. We also now have a better understanding of when adult blacktip sharks give birth, with results showing high numbers of newborns in late February and early March. Drone surveys, led by Masters

student Lauren Goodman, are providing more accurate and efficient measurements of juvenile shark abundance than traditional survey techniques using nets. Moreover, the field team, including principle scientist Dr Alex Hearn, has been taking blood samples from the sharks, which will be analysed to build a picture of their health, growth and survival at the suspected nursery sites. Fieldwork is now underway to build on last year’s activities, including regular drone surveys of key sites and blood sample collection, as well as monitoring the frequency of human activities on boats at these sites. One day these young blacktip and scalloped hammerhead sharks will join their respective adult populations. For scalloped hammerhead sharks, their global IUCN Red List status was recently revised from Endangered to Critically Endangered, largely due to intense pressure from global fisheries. These suspected nursery sites in the GMR are small beacons of hope for sustaining the species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, and protecting them has never been more important.

MARTI THE HAMMERHEAD SHARK OUTREACH O

populated islands in Galapagos and into coastal mainland Ecuador. The themes explored by the storybook, such as nursery habitats, why sharks migrate and threats to sharks from industrial fishing are important messages that can be enhanced through linked learning resources. GCT and the GSC have been hard at work developing resources for teachers and outreach groups, such as guided reading sessions, to aid students’ learning and understanding of key concepts. Later this year we plan to launch a digital version of the book on our Discovering Galapagos website, enriched with linked teaching and multi-media resources. To date we have had fantastic feedback on the storybook in Galapagos and the UK, and international interest for its distribution. We are excited to see where Marti will go in 2020! If you would like to purchase a copy of the storybook, please visit the GCT shop galapagosconservation.org.uk/shop

utreach and engagement of local communities in shark conservation is a priority for GCT. In 2019, with thanks to much generous support through our crowd-funded campaign, we produced our storybook Marti the Hammerhead Shark – A Galapagos Journey in both English and Spanish. The story follows Marti, a young scalloped hammerhead shark, on her first migration from her mangrove nursery grounds around San Cristobal to Cocos Island in Costa Rica. This story was inspired by the real journeys of hammerhead sharks and the research being carried out to conserve shark nursery sites and establish protections in the Galapagos-Cocos ‘Swimway’ (an important migration route for several endangered marine species between Galapagos and Cocos Island, Costa Rica). The Spanish version of the storybook was launched on San Cristobal in the autumn at an event attended by schools and families. Schools produced comics, puppet shows and games to link with the launch. Dr Alex Hearn, shark scientist at University San Francisco de Quito, gave a talk about the science behind the book and around 100 books were given out on the day. Our partners at the Galapagos Science Center have toured schools on San Cristobal with the book, undertaking 32 workshops with nine teachers and 268 students. We are developing plans for expanding the distribution of Marti across the other

SPRING | SUMMER 2020

GARBOLOGY: NEW PERSPECTIVES ON PLASTIC WASTE

by Professor John Schofield

n a remote beach on San Cristobal, there is a plastic bottle. Inside the bottle, there is a toothbrush. How did it get there? What is its story?

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

It is estimated that nine million metric tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year, floating around the globe on ocean currents or gyres. It is only recently, however, that scientists working in Galapagos, led by my team from the University of York, have engaged in ‘garbology’, treating marine plastic as archaeological artefacts. The study of rubbish has a curious origin. In 1970, the American journalist A.J. Weberman began rifling through Bob Dylan’s dustbins, hoping to find clues that would shed light on his music. This questionable practice, which Weberman referred to as ‘garbology’, took on a more respectable guise a few years later when University of Arizona archaeologist William Rathje began the Tuscon Garbage Project, using the contents of household waste to explore patterns of consumption. “In the three or so million years of humankind, we have never

had more reason than we have today to try to understand our relation to our artifacts – what we manufacture, use, and discard – and how our artifacts both mirror and shape our actions and attitudes,” he wrote in 1984. For Rathje, the examination of humans through their rubbish was not only a scientific project but also one with profound moral and political significance. This work – and that of others – expanded the scope of archaeology from its more familiar focus on the deep past to what is now referred to as contemporary archaeology, the application of archaeological methods to the period of living memory. After all, most ancient archaeology involves the scientific analysis of people’s rubbish, objects discarded as no longer useful that turn up thousands of years later. In the case of contemporary archaeology, the time that elapses between

Right: Object narratives created for the plastic detergent pot (alternate)

Left: Looking for clues. Discussing the story of a detergent container in the object narratives workshop

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GARBOLOGY Story-telling is central to archaeological interpretation. We speculated on the objects’ life stories based on the evidence available to us, and created stories around each of them. Were the items lost or discarded locally, or had they travelled longer distances? Did traces of their use give a clue to their origins? Did evidence of weathering or the colonisation of marine species suggest how long items had been either at sea or on the beach before we collected them? How fast were they degrading? In every story human actions were the likely cause of pollution, reinforcing the central message that actions have consequences. Of all the objects, the bottle containing the toothbrush produced the most interesting stories (right). Some imagined the toothbrush to have been the property of a fisherman, who had used the plastic water bottle to keep it clean whilst at sea. But when the cap was unscrewed and the contents gave off the smell of methylated spirits, the message in the bottle changed. Rather than being used on teeth, the brush became reimagined as a repurposed boat-cleaning tool that had been swept overboard in a storm. We believe ‘garbology’ has an important role to play in creating novel ways of mitigating marine plastic pollution. Set within the context of storytelling in cocreative and community-led conservation practice, objects become vital as things

to tell stories with or about or to narrate meaning through. Alongside beach-cleans, policy making and recycling initiatives, human behaviours remain central to reducing marine pollution. The work being undertaken in Galapagos could provide a novel and effective solution, not just locally but on a global scale.

Exploring the origins of the toothbrush in a bottle (above right). ‘The Shoe’ - The shoe sole, and its wear patterns (left) compared to standard wear patterns (right). (Analysis and illustration © Sean Doherty)

In every story human actions were the likely cause of pollution, reinforcing the central message that actions have consequences.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

the use of an object and its discovery is just much shorter, usually a matter of years but sometimes days. Several research groups with an interest in Galapagos are following in Rathje’s tradition. In a recent study, Dr Erik van Sebille and colleagues at the University of Utrecht studied ocean currents to reveal that most of the plastic reaching Galapagos has come from Southern Ecuador and Northern Peru. In recently published work in the journal Antiquity, we have been particularly interested in exploring the stories of plastic objects that have turned up in Galapagos. In May 2018, as part of GCT’s Plastic Pollution Free Galapagos programme, we took part in a ‘Science to Solutions’ workshop (run by the Galapagos National Park and GCT and hosted by the Galapagos Science Centre and Charles Darwin Foundation) to develop and test a methodology for collecting the narratives of discarded objects. We chose Bahia Rosa Blanca as our study site, a remote beach on San Cristobal that can only be accessed by boat, has rarely been cleaned and had therefore accumulated a wide range of objects, such as plastic bags, Styrofoam cups, flip-flops, the sole of a shoe, a pot of detergent, hats, Lego, dolls, fishing gear and the bottle with a toothbrush inside. Back at the Galapagos Science Center, we grouped the artefacts and identified eight whose stories we were to explore in more detail.

FLOREANA

RESTORING AN ISLAND PARADISE TO ITS FORMER GLORY by Karl Campbell & Andy Donnelly

ver the last couple of centuries, the loss of global biodiversity has been described as the sixth great extinction event in Planet Earth’s history, the last one having been responsible for wiping out the dinosaurs. What is less known is that some 80% of species that have gone extinct over the last two centuries have been lost from islands.

transparent process in place for resolving any conflicts that may arise. Without this, the project will not succeed and even if eradication is achieved, it is almost inevitable that there will be a reinvasion of invasive species at a later date. Second, is the efficient and effective delivery of poisoned bait across the island, the single most expensive component of any large-scale eradication. Up until recently, this was carried out using helicopters, which on an island the size of Floreana might take two months or more. The development of drone technology over the last decade, however, has suggested a viable alternative, a method that could achieve greater precision, operate in all but the most extreme weather conditions and 24 hours a day, thereby reducing the duration and cost of delivering bait across vast, inaccessible areas. In January 2019, Island Conservation, the Galapagos National Park and the start-up Environmental and Conservation Technologies (ECT) completed a world first, using batteryoperated drones to deliver payloads of 20 kg across the small island of North Seymour. Floreana is nearly 100 times larger, but there are now military-scale drones capable of lifting over 200 kg that could replace helicopters for 90% of the operation on Floreana. GCT continues to raise funds for the eradication event on Floreana. This is scheduled for 2021, and with the backing of Floreana residents and the potential cost-saving offered by drone innovation, this groundbreaking restoration initiative is now that much closer to becoming a reality. When it happens, we are confident this will restore the lineages of several endangered species on Floreana, but what we have learned and will learn in Galapagos is also likely to change the landscape of restoration ecology the world over. To find out more about our Restoring Floreana programme and to donate, please visit galapagosconservation.org.uk/restoring-floreana

A major cause of island extinctions has been the introduction of invasive species, with predators like cats, rats and mice particularly devastating. But the work of organisations like GCT’s partner Island Conservation demonstrates that this impact can be reversed. There are now more than one thousand success stories, where the removal of invasive species has resulted in the recovery of native flora and fauna and this approach is our best opportunity to slow down the current rate of extinction. Most of the examples, however, are from small and uninhabited islets because the bigger the island and the greater the human presence, the more complex and costly the eradication becomes. The removal of cats, rats and mice from Floreana island in Galapagos is one of the most ambitious restoration projects anywhere in the world, from both a complexity perspective but also from the number of species that stand to benefit. The IUCN lists 55 native species on Floreana that are threatened with extinction, including the near-extinct Floreana mockingbird and Galapagos racer snake. Floreana is about 17,200 hectares of dry lowlands, highland Scalesia forest and lowland farmland managed by the local human population of about 100 people. The size of the island and the presence of both residents and a tourist population of several thousand a year poses huge technical challenges and raises the cost of eradication significantly. This is why GCT, Island Conservation and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust have identified Floreana as a strategic focus. This is a perfect opportunity to pioneer innovative, cost-effective solutions that can be used in similarly complex settings on islands elsewhere. After several decades of conducting such projects, Island Conservation identifies two aspects that are particularly important to reduce the risks, the duration and therefore the costs of such eradication initiatives. First, it is essential that island communities have ownership of the project, are its greatest advocates and that there is a simple,

Battery operated drones being used on North Seymour island, Galapagos

SPRING | SUMMER 2020

GLOBAL RELEVANCE

A BRUVS rig deployed during an expedition to Rapa Iti in French Polynesia.

by Naima Lopez

cean biodiversity is in decline. The iconic scalloped hammerhead shark, for instance, has recently been listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. With similar declines occurring across a wide range of species, concern is mounting over ocean health and seafood security.

Large marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly being established to halt and reverse declines in ocean biodiversity. Large MPAs pose particular challenges relative to their coastal cousins such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Large MPAs encompass vast tracts of openocean, a habitat that covers 75% of the Earth’s surface. We know relatively little about open ocean wildlife, with many species with a low and patchy distribution, which makes them difficult to observe and study. Understanding how these animals use space is fundamental to their conservation. Ocean wildlife is at risk and thus sampling methods must be non-destructive so scientists are not required to kill animals to learn about them. Baited remote underwater video systems, or BRUVS, were originally designed in 1975 to study reef fish and are now used globally. Building on the experience of seabed BRUVS, the Marine Futures Lab at the University of Western Australia developed a mid-water drifting stereo-BRUVS to study the open-ocean wildlife that lives in the water column. Mid-water stereo-BRUVS consist of two GoPro cameras mounted on a stainless-steel

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

frame rig, angled towards a steel arm with a bait canister on its end. They are deployed from a boat in a “long-line” formation of five stereo rigs. Suspended at 10 metres below the surface, they drift untethered for two hours, recording animals that swim through the field of view. A typical day has team members deploying and recovering the lines four times to generate 20 samples per day. Back in the lab, video footage is manually analysed to identify, count, and measure each observed individual. Since their development in 2012, the team at the Marine Futures Lab has successfully completed over 60 expeditions at 35 locations around the world, in which we have counted more than 100,000 individuals from over 250 species. This methodology has been used to monitor fish and shark pelagic communities within MPAs globally, creating baselines against which the benefits of MPAs can be determined. In Galapagos, in collaboration with Dr. Alex Hearn from the University of San Francisco de Quito, with support from GCT and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, we are using mid-water BRUVS to understand how ocean wildlife uses the big blue around islets and seamounts.

The use of mid-water BRUVS has revolutionised research in the open ocean. A key next step lies in technology transfer whereby mid-water stereo-BRUVS are adopted in locations where there is a need to better understand ocean wildlife and the benefits of MPAs. Adoption of this cheap and easy technology in areas with or considering large MPAs will unveil ocean wildlife status and will also help coastal communities better understand the state of their ocean wildlife. The development of artificial intelligence for automated identification, counting and measurement is also key given the large amount of collected video and the many hours that manual processing requires. The Marine Futures Lab is collaborating with different stakeholders to develop open-source software for video processing, which will allow us to keep counting fish in this habitat and contribute the knowledge needed to build resilient oceans in which wildlife flourishes. You can donate to GCT’s Endangered Sharks of Galapagos Programme online at galapagosconservation.org.uk/endangeredsharks-of-galapagos.

CONSERVING OCEAN WILDLIFE IN THE BIG BLUE

SUPPORTER NEWS G

alapagos Conservation Trust thrives because of the enthusiasm and loyalty of our supporters, who get involved in helping us in many different ways. Thank you to everyone for all your tremendous involvement and efforts!

CONSERVATIONIST IN THE MAKING N

hanks to all of you who bought raffle tickets last year, helping us raise over £12,000! Below is Jenn Stone on the Metropolitan cruise she won in 2018 and Heather Allison, winner of the Trek bike in the 2019 raffle, who came back from her first ride, covered in mud and delighted!

e were very pleased to give two young people, Avani Gupta and Olly Feaver, the opportunity of a lifetime to attend and represent GCT at the Youth Changemakers For Our Planet Convention. Taking place on 16 April at the Royal Geographical Society and organised by WWF, the convention will bring together 500 inspiring young people to share ideas on how to promote a sustainable future for the planet. GCT’s Young Ambassadors will then attend the exclusive premiere of Sir David Attenborough’s powerful witness statement ‘A Life on Our Planet’ at the Royal Albert Hall in London, where he will be communicating his vision and message for hope, empowering the attendees with tools to make real change.

GCT RAFFLE

GCT YOUNG AMBASSADORS

ine-year-old Charlie’s favourite animal is the tortoise. He has several pet tortoises and recently gained one more in the form of a Galapagos Conservation Trust gift adoption. Charlie told us, “I was really surprised to receive my Galapagos tortoise adoption for Christmas. I loved it and the tortoise soft toy. I want to adopt a tortoise every year to help support the conservation of Galapagos.” Having researched tortoises in Galapagos, Charlie’s dream is to go to Isabela island to see them in their natural habitat and to one day work with tortoises. Good luck Charlie.

HELPING GALAPAGOS INTO THE FUTURE I n 2019, GCT received £56,000 from people who had left money to us in their Will, including a legacy of £11,000 from a supporter who had been a member since 2002. Donating small amounts during her lifetime, she was obviously passionate about the need to protect Galapagos and was able to help us very generously at the end of her life through her Will. Her legacy has been put towards our education work on the Islands, which was in need of extra funds. Alan Chapman is a GCT member and volunteers in our London office, “I have included GCT in my Will because, ever since I visited Galapagos in 1992, I’ve appreciated what a unique and wonderful place it is. If I can do anything to help preserve its fragile environment and wildlife for others to enjoy in the future, then a bequest will be money well spent. I also want GCT supporters to be aware that Inheritance

Tax can sometimes be reduced through a charitable legacy”. We would like to deeply thank Alan and anyone who has ever included GCT in their Will. If you are interested in protecting Galapagos into the future in a similar way, please do get in touch via email on kelly@gct.org or by calling our office. Your contact will be treated with the utmost confidence.

To ﬁnd out more about membership and other ways to help GCT, please contact us in the ofﬁce, email gct@gct.org or visit galapagosconservation.org.uk/get-involved

SPRING | SUMMER 2020

E T H I C AL SH O P P I N G

REVIEWS ADVENTURE ESCAPE GALÁPAGOS by Ellen Prager, Tumblehome Learning, Boston ISBN 9781943431557 Reviewed by Lisa Wheeler

his book really lives up to its synopsis, an exciting island adventure story filled with nature, science and humour. In this children’s novel, Prager highlights the wonders of Galapagos through an exciting plot filled with anecdotes and science facts from her own time on the Islands as well as showcasing some of the things that threaten the magnificent wildlife of Galapagos. The story is told through the eyes of Ezzy, a young girl who, in the wake of her mother’s death, has travelled to Galapagos with her Dad and animal-loving brother Luke. As the narrative unfolds, Ezzy has to battle her fear of wild animals in order to save some of Galapagos’ most iconic wildlife. This would be a great pick for a young reader interested in the natural world, especially for someone who has just come back from a trip to Galapagos. At the end of the book, Prager gives the reader an insight into the anecdotes and facts used throughout the book in an interesting ‘true or false’ section.

NEW TEEMILL PRODUCTS

ave you checked out our Teemill website yet? We have a wide range of t-shirts, jumpers, hoodies and tote bags available, with all the profits going to support our work. All of the products produced by Teemill are made from organic cotton, and the process from seed to product is continuously being improved to be as sustainable as possible, with the factories using renewable energy and recirculated water. Our designs are all produced by GCT supporters and include hammerhead sharks, vermilion flycatchers and of course the iconic blue-footed booby. Why not buy one for yourself, or as a gift? You can do so online at galapagosconservation.teemill.co.uk. We are always interested in new designs, so if you are interested in working with us, please get in touch with our Communications and Marketing team via comms@gct.org.

BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED THE GALAPAGOS MEETING By Avril Suddaby and illustrations by Oli Johnson, Smokehouse Press, Norwich ISBN 9780957633599 Reviewed by Ben Stockwell

t is around the turn of the millennium and, as they do every 1000 years or so, the unique species of Galapagos are meeting to discuss the issues facing the Enchanted Isles. This thought provoking book touches on pressing issues for the environment and society as a whole, including climate change, tourism and invasive species, shedding light on how these issues affect species in different ways. As this is the animals’ first meeting since Darwin’s Theory of Evolution was published, the legacy of his groundbreaking theory and what this means for the Islands is celebrated by the animals. Whilst none of these topics is simple, the issues are brought to life in a fun, informative way via Avril Suddaby’s clear writing style, explanatory paragraphs for difficult concepts and playful illustrations by Oli Johnson. Aimed at children nearing the end of primary school, this book is a great way to introduce young people to Galapagos’ unique wildlife and threats it faces.

GALAPAGOS MATTERS

JOIN US – BECOME A GCT MEMBER

ant to become a GCT member? From as little as £36, £48 or £108 per year, you can support our ongoing efforts to preserve and protect these incredible Islands and their wildlife. Payments can also be paid monthly. Members receive a monthly e-Newsletter bringing you the latest Galapagos news and information about GCT projects and events, biannual copies of the Galapagos Matters magazine, an exclusive GCT pin badge and priority booking for events and lectures. Alternatively, if you would like to take your commitment to Galapagos to a higher level, please consider joining our small circle of Galapagos Guardians for a donation of £2,000. A contribution of this signifi cance has a large impact, helping us to channel funds across all of our projects without restriction. You can become a member using the form on the back page or find out more online at galapagosconservation.org.uk/membership. For questions on Guardian membership, please contact kelly@gct.org.

EVENTS

For more information about events and to book your tickets, simply visit galapagosconservation.org.uk/events or call us on 020 7399 7440

GALAPAGOS DAY

THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER 2020 19:00 - 22:00 (DOORS OPEN AT 18:30) ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, 1 KENSINGTON GORE, LONDON

ickets are now on sale for this year’s Galapagos Day which will take place on Thursday 22 October at the Royal Geographical Society in London. Join us and celebrate 25 years of GCT’s conservation work in the Galapagos Islands. We are finalising the line up of speakers and will confirm the full details of the event in the coming months via our website and e-Newsletter, so please keep an eye out. Tickets are £20 (£15 for students), so don’t miss out on securing your space. © Asher Mann

You can buy tickets using the form on the back of the magazine, online at galapagosconservation.org.uk/events or by calling the office on 020 7399 7440.

GALAPAGOS PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

a Public’s Choice vote including all of the winners and runners-up as well as some of the shortlisted images. Visit our website to see the competition rules, to gain inspiration from previous years, and to enter your Galapagos images: galapagosconservation.org.uk/get-involved/photography-competition

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: 7 JUNE 2020

The competition is sponsored by Aqua-Firma Worldwide.

e have an exciting new line up of judges and two new categories in our 2020 Galapagos Photography Competition. Judges of this year’s competition include GCT Ambassador and science and wildlife presenter, Liz Bonnin, Series Producer of BBC’s Blue Planet II, Mark Brownlow, and professional photographer, Jay McLaughlin. The competition celebrates the beauty of the Islands while also aiming to raise awareness of the environmental issues that affect the wildlife and communities who live there. The overall winner of the 2020 competition will have their image included in GCT’s 2021 calendar, receive a pair of Opticron binoculars and a year’s free membership to GCT. This year’s competition includes two new categories, Birds of Galapagos and Coastal & Marine, which join the four existing categories of Up Close & Personal, Animals in Action, Landscape and Urban Life. Following an announcement of the winners, there will be

Reflections - overall winner in the 2019 Galapagos Photography Competition.

SPRING | SUMMER 2020

CONTACT DETAILS

Please fill in your details below: Name: .......................................................................................... Address: ...................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... Post code: .................................................................................... Telephone: ................................................................................... Email: ............................................................................................ If you are happy for us to contact you by email (including our monthly enewsletter) or telephone, please complete the field(s) above. You can unsubscribe at any time.

METHOD OF PAYMENT Please tick one: Cheque (payable to Galapagos Conservation Trust) Credit card

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Name on card: ....................................................................... Card no: ................................................................................. Expiry date: ............................................................................. Issue no / Start date: ............................................................... Security code: .........................................................................

Yes I am a UK taxpayer and I want to Gift Aid my donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to the Galapagos Conservation Trust. I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

SPRING |

PAYMENT FORM There are several easy ways to place an order or donate in support of our work. 1. Via our website galapagosconservation.org.uk 2. By telephone on 020 7399 7440 3. By completing the details on this form and returning with your preferred payment method to: Galapagos Conservation Trust, Charles Darwin Suite, 28 Portland Place, London, W1B 1LY Appeal

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Floreana Mockingbird (£25 including pin badge)

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ATTERS

THANK YOU TO OUR GALAPAGOS DAY 2019 SPONSORS QUASAR EXPEDITIONS AND BESPOKE HOTELS

Grace Kelly aboard our yacht MIY Grace in 1956 34 years ago, Quasar Expeditions' mission began: To show the Galapagos to

world through Project1_Layout 1 the 19/11/2019 10:44 sociallyPage 1 and environmentally conscious tourism and

preserve the islands for future generations. Our intention is to pave the road for what a responsible travel company can be, with care for our planet at the forefront of our expeditions.

infouk@quasarex.com I 0 800 883 082 7 I www.quasarex.com

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bespoke, and proud of it. Check in and check us out at www.bespokehotels.com

For more information on 2020 event sponsorship please contact comms@gct.org