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Galapagos ecosystem.

• The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands that are located around the Equator in the Pacific Ocean. They are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Nowadays 97% of the area is a National Park to protect the unique nature and specie.
• Ecuador is the most biodiverse country on Earth and there are several different ecosystems within it. The Galapagos Islands have are their own ecosystems and are famous for a wealth of unique plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.
• Galápagos - The Enchanted Islands (Einbetten)
• Bildunterschrift: -You can watch that video and you can see how beautiful and magnificent Galapagos is..

INFORMATION:

• On the Galapagos Islands, there are three major ecosystems: terrestrial, coastal and marine. In the years of El Niño, the ecosystems show their characteristic behaviours. In the terrestrial zone predominate heavy rains, which has a positive effect on the animals and plants in this zone. In contrast, in the marine and coastal zone the highwater seaweed is destroyed, which causes marine iguanas to starve and they are unable to reproduce.
• The organisms on Galapagos are all originated from organisms brought in by sea currents, air currents or birds. Because of the distance between the Galapagos and the mainland, an unrivalled evolution has taken place. Furthermore they were the source of Darwin’s (1809-1882) theory of evolution and still remain an amazing laboratory for scientists today. In his honor they built the Charles Darwin Station to breed more Giant Tortoises, where also the famous Lonesome George lived until he died.

FLORA AND FAUNA DEFINITION:

• IIt has more than 500 native plant species, of which 180 are endemic. It also has three different climates: coastline, desert and humid forest. Thanks to this, the archipelago has three marked but integrated ecosystems. This integration increases the number of species that can live in that relatively small space.

FLORA AND FAUNA:

• FLORA:
• In these islands you can find unique species of cotton plants, guava, pepper and tomatoes that only exist in Galapago; they are endemic to the archipelago. Similarly, some xerophytic species, such as the lava cactus, exist exclusively there. Also endemic is the candelabra cactus, which has red flowers and a thorn barrier of up to 6 centimeters that protects the flower.
• FAUNA:
• The animals that inhabit the archipelago are one of its main attractions. For example, there are two unique bat species and two unique rat species on the island.

Characteristics:

• -Type of territory: Natural
• -Number of islands that make it up: 13 islands
• -Location: South America, 972 km from the Ecuadorian coast
• -Surface: 8010 Km
• -Capital: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

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