The beautiful Galapagos Islands and their many inhabitants have always been sensitive to changes in ocean temperature, and its warming is one of the serious threats to them, along with invasive species and plastic, the Associated Press reported, quoted by dariknews. bg
Warm morning light reflects off the remains of a natural rock arch near Darwin Island, one of the most remote in the Galapagos. In the clear, deep blue water, thousands of creatures - fish, hammerhead sharks, marine iguanas - move in search of food.
The 2021 collapse of Darwin Arch, named after the famous British naturalist behind the theory of evolution, is due to natural erosion. Her "doom" however, it draws attention to the fragility of a remote archipelago that is under increasing pressure from both climate change and invasive species.
Warming oceans are affecting the food sources of many of the Galapagos marine animals.
Marine iguanas, one of the many species that are endemic or unique to the Galapagos Islands, have a harder time finding their preferred red and green algae.
Sea turtles struggle to nest in warmer temperatures. Raising the young becomes more difficult as the water warms and there are fewer nutrients.
Although the Galapagos Islands are known for their great variety of species, their number is not unlimited.
"There's a little bit of everything here, that's why people say the Galapagos is so diverse, but we have a small number of everything," says Natasha Cabezas, a naturalist tour guide.
The Galapagos Islands have always been sensitive to changes in ocean temperature. The archipelago itself is located in a place where the main ocean currents meet - cool from the south, warm from the north and a cold updraft from the west. In addition, the influence of El Niño is felt - the periodic natural warming of the Pacific Ocean, which affects the weather all over the world.
While temperatures vary with the season and other naturally occurring climate phenomena, ocean temperatures are rising due to human-induced climate change as the oceans absorb most of the excess heat in the atmosphere. In the past 10 years, the ocean experienced its warmest decade since at least 1800, and 2023 was its warmest year on record.
In early June, winter sets in in the Southern Hemisphere, and the Cromwell Current brings whale sharks, hammerheads and huge sunfish to the surface. It also provides nutrients for foraging penguins, marine iguanas and sea lions.
As more of the animals in question emerge this season, scientists are tracking how they have coped with the warming from last year's El Niño.
The phenomenon could lead to food shortages for some species such as marine iguanas and sea turtles, as a warmer ocean means fewer food sources.
Scientists who monitor these species note a significant decline in their populations during El Niño.
Marine iguanas were one of the most affected species from last year's phenomenon and are currently still recovering, says Galapagos Conservation Director Jorge Carrion.
While rising ocean temperatures threaten aquatic or marine life, there is another problem on land. Wild animals - cats, dogs, pigs, goats and cattle, none of which are native, are a threat to the islands' unique species.
Non-endemic species are a particular threat to the giant tortoises, which are closely associated with the Galapagos Islands. The turtles declined dramatically in the 19th century due to hunting and poaching, and authorities worked to protect them from humans. It has been illegal to kill a Galapagos tortoise since 1933.
In addition to invasive species and ocean warming, the Galapagos Islands and their inhabitants are also threatened by plastic, which is a ubiquitous problem in the world's oceans. One of the latest studies reported the presence of microplastics in the stomachs of Galapagos penguins.
Warm morning light reflects off the remains of a natural rock arch near Darwin Island, one of the most remote in the Galapagos. In the clear, deep blue water, thousands of creatures - fish, hammerhead sharks, marine iguanas - move in search of food.
The 2021 collapse of Darwin Arch, named after the famous British naturalist behind the theory of evolution, is due to natural erosion. Her "doom" however, it draws attention to the fragility of a remote archipelago that is under increasing pressure from both climate change and invasive species.
Warming oceans are affecting the food sources of many of the Galapagos marine animals.
Marine iguanas, one of the many species that are endemic or unique to the Galapagos Islands, have a harder time finding their preferred red and green algae.
Sea turtles struggle to nest in warmer temperatures. Raising the young becomes more difficult as the water warms and there are fewer nutrients.
Although the Galapagos Islands are known for their great variety of species, their number is not unlimited.
"There's a little bit of everything here, that's why people say the Galapagos is so diverse, but we have a small number of everything," says Natasha Cabezas, a naturalist tour guide.
The Galapagos Islands have always been sensitive to changes in ocean temperature. The archipelago itself is located in a place where the main ocean currents meet - cool from the south, warm from the north and a cold updraft from the west. In addition, the influence of El Niño is felt - the periodic natural warming of the Pacific Ocean, which affects the weather all over the world.
While temperatures vary with the season and other naturally occurring climate phenomena, ocean temperatures are rising due to human-induced climate change as the oceans absorb most of the excess heat in the atmosphere. In the past 10 years, the ocean experienced its warmest decade since at least 1800, and 2023 was its warmest year on record.
In early June, winter sets in in the Southern Hemisphere, and the Cromwell Current brings whale sharks, hammerheads and huge sunfish to the surface. It also provides nutrients for foraging penguins, marine iguanas and sea lions.
As more of the animals in question emerge this season, scientists are tracking how they have coped with the warming from last year's El Niño.
The phenomenon could lead to food shortages for some species such as marine iguanas and sea turtles, as a warmer ocean means fewer food sources.
Scientists who monitor these species note a significant decline in their populations during El Niño.
Marine iguanas were one of the most affected species from last year's phenomenon and are currently still recovering, says Galapagos Conservation Director Jorge Carrion.
While rising ocean temperatures threaten aquatic or marine life, there is another problem on land. Wild animals - cats, dogs, pigs, goats and cattle, none of which are native, are a threat to the islands' unique species.
Non-endemic species are a particular threat to the giant tortoises, which are closely associated with the Galapagos Islands. The turtles declined dramatically in the 19th century due to hunting and poaching, and authorities worked to protect them from humans. It has been illegal to kill a Galapagos tortoise since 1933.
In addition to invasive species and ocean warming, the Galapagos Islands and their inhabitants are also threatened by plastic, which is a ubiquitous problem in the world's oceans. One of the latest studies reported the presence of microplastics in the stomachs of Galapagos penguins.