Galapagos Islands National Park - Ecuador

Basic Information
Site Name
Galapagos Islands National Park
Short name
PNGalapagos
Country
Ecuador
Web Address
https://galapagos.gob.ec/
Operating Organisation
National Park of Galapagos
Site Manager
Dr. Luciana Gomes Barbosa
BA Eduardo Ramon Espinoza Herrera
Site Description
Historically, the role of the Galapagos Islands has been considered critical due to the evolutionary diversification induced by natural and historical isolation. The Galapagos National Park was established in 1959, based on its historical importance associated with Charles Darwin's voyage and its rare and endemic biodiversity, composed of unique vertebrate and plant communities (Rozzi et al. 2010). In 1978, the Galapagos Islands were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a critical factor associated with this national park (Rozzi et al. 2010). The Galapagos Islands are a pristine area with local and regional climates influenced by the interaction of ocean currents and winds driven by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; ITCZ ...
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Last modified
2024-01-03 20:01:00

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General Characteristics and Status
Site Status
Planned
Year Established
2024
Observed properties
water parameterecosystem parameterchemical parameterbiological parameteratmospheric parameterlandscape parameterenvironmental parameterremote sensing parametersoil parametergenetic parameteragricultural parameteracidneutralizingcapacityofwaterammoniumcontentammoniumnitrateconcentrationammoniumnitrogencontentavailablephosphorusbiologicaloxygendemandcarbondioxideconcentrationchlorophyllcontentofwaterconductivitydissolvedorganiccarboninwaterdissolvedorganicnitrogendissolvedorganicphosphorusdrylandsalinityelectricalconductivityhydraulicconductivitylakelevellaketemperaturenitrogencontentoxygenconcentrationoxygensaturationpercentcarbonpotentialevaporationrainfallvariabilityrivertemperaturerunoffamountsecchidepthsedimentationratestreamordersurfacerunoffsuspendedsolidstotalcarbontotalorganiccarbontranspirationratewateraciditywateralkalinitywatercolourwatercontentwaterdepthwaterefficiencymeasurewaterflavourwaterheavymetalconcentrationwaterlevelwaterpressurewaterqualitywatersalinitywatertablewatertemperaturewatertransparencywatervolumeabovegroundnetprimaryproductionalgaespeciesabundancealgaespeciespresencealphadiversityammoniumcontentannelidapresencebacillariophyceaeabundancebacillariophyceaebiomassbacillariophyceaebiovolumebacillariophyceaepresencebacillariophyceaespeciesrichnessbacteriaabundancebacteriapresencebacterialdiversitybenthicinvertebratesabundancebenthicinvertebratespresencebetadiversitybiodiversitylossbiomassallocationbioticdiversitybiovolumebirdsabundanceecosystemhealthecosystemstructurefishabundancefloristiccompositionfloristicdiversityhabitatcomplexityhabitatdegradationhabitatdisturbancehabitatheterogeneityhabitatstructurehabitatuselandcovertypephytoplanktonabundancephytoplanktonbiomassplantdiversitypopulationdensitypopulationsizespeciesabundancespeciescompositionspeciesgroupabundancespecieslistspeciespresencezooplanktonabundancezooplanktonbiomassairmethaneconcentrationammoniumcontentammoniumnitrateconcentrationammoniumnitrogencontentavailablephosphoruscarbondioxideconcentrationchemicalcompositionofwaterchlorophyllacontentinwaterconcentrationofnitrogeninseedsdissolvednutrientdissolvedorganiccarboninwaterdissolvedorganicnitrogendrylandsalinityinorganiccarboncontentinorganicnitrogencontentmethaneconcentrationneutralizingcapacitynitrogenbalancenitrogenbudgetoxygensaturationpercentcarbonredoxpotentialofwatertotalalkalinitytotalcarbontotalorganiccarbonwateraciditywateralkalinitywatersalinitywaterturbiditybetadiversitybiologicaldiversitybirdeggmassbirdeggsizebodylengthbodysizecommunitypatterncommunitystructuredispersaldistancedispersaloflarvaedroughtresistancedroughttoleranceforestcovernetphotosyntheticratenetprimaryproductivityplantcarbonconcentrationplantnitrogenconcentrationplantnutrientpopulationsizepopulationstructureprimaryproductivitysexualdimorphismsexualreproductionstressresponsestresstoleranceairhumidityairparameterairtemperaturecarbondioxideconcentrationdaylightlengthdiffusesolarradiationintensityglobalradiationirradianceirradiancemaximumtemperaturemeanannualairtemperaturemeanannualprecipitationmeanannualtemperaturemethaneconcentrationprecipitationintensitysoilcarbondioxidefluxwinddirectionwinddirection(meanandgust)windspeedlandcoverlanduselanduseintensitylandusepatternlandscapecompositionlandscapeconfigurationlandscapeconnectivitylandscapefragmentationlandscapeheterogeneitylandscapemetricslandscapepatternlandscapestructureabioticheterogeneityaltitudinalgradientelevatedtemperatureemissionrateenvironmentalheterogeneityenvironmentalqualityindexlandsurfacetemperaturelatitudinaldiversitygradientlatitudinalgradientseasonalchangealbedodiffuseradiationintensityglobalradiationirradianceirradiancenetradiationirradiancereflectedglobalradiationirradiancesoilalbedosolarradiationvegetationreflectancewateralbedoelectricalconductivityinorganiccarboncontentinorganicnitrogencontentpercentcarbonpercentnitrogenpercentorganiccarbonsoiltexturesoilwatercontentsoilwaterretentiontotalcarbonclonaldiversityDNAsequencegenepolymorphisminterspecificvariationintraspecificvariationoutcrossingratecropgrowthratenutrientconcentrationnutrientcontentpotentialcroptranspiration
Climate
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec mm 0 20 40 60 80 100 200 300-70 -40 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 °C
Average Monthly Air TemperatureAverage Monthly Precipitation
Precipitation Sum:    28 mm
Temperature Mean: 23.17 °C
Standard Reference Period: 1991 - 2020
Affiliation and Network Specific Information
Projects
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Photos
Temporary lagoons in the lowlands of Santa Cruz Island. These lagoons are important habitats for giant tortoises. Photo: Luciana BarbosaPhoto: Luciana Barbosa
Temporary lagoons in the lowlands of Santa Cruz Island. These lagoons are important habitats for giant tortoises. Photo: Luciana BarbosaPhoto: Luciana Barbosa
Geographic
Marker
3 km
2 mi
Sites are only displayed in the site overview map when they have set an active site status.
Centroid/Representative Coordinates

Latitude: -0.644414 Longitude: -90.365982

Size
ca. 7.97ha
Elevation (average)
1.71msl
Elevation (min)
0.00msl
Elevation (max)
1.71msl
Related location(s)
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Site information [.json]

Centroid/representative coordinates [.shp] [.kml]
Bounding Box [.shp] [.kml]
Boundaries [.shp] [.kml]
GEO-BON Biome
Fresh water lakes
Biome
Fresh Water Lakes
Ecosystem Type
Lakes
Marine
Rivers
Biogeographical Region
Continental Bio-geographical Region
EUNIS habitat
Coastal habitats (B)
Coastal habitats (B) » Rock cliffs, ledges and shores, including the supralittoral (B3)
Habitat complexes (X)
Habitat complexes (X) » Bentho-pelagic habitats (X30)
Habitat complexes (X) » Brackish coastal lagoons (X03)
Habitat complexes (X) » Estuaries (X01)
Habitat complexes (X) » Saline coastal lagoons (X02)
Habitat complexes (X) » Salt lake islands (X29)
Inland surface waters (C)
Inland surface waters (C) » Littoral zone of inland surface waterbodies (C3)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface running waters (C2)
Inland surface waters (C) » Surface standing waters (C1)
Marine habitats (A)
Marine habitats (A) » Littoral sediment (A2)
Marine habitats (A) » Pelagic water column (A7)
Marine habitats (A) » Sublittoral sediment (A5)
Air Temperature: Average Annual
21.40°C
Precipitation Annual
2.00mm
Landforms
Coast
Island
Lagoon
Cave
Delta
Lake
River
Mountain
Valley
Geology
The Galapagos Islands lie on the constantly moving Nazca tectonic plate. Geologically, the Galapagos Islands are quite young, probably no more than five million years old. Some of the westernmost islands, which are the most volcanically active, may only be hundreds of thousands of years old and are still being formed.
Vegetation
In the larger and higher islands, the dry uplands may be observed, with marked differences in the vegetation pattern between lowland (semi-arid) and highlands (humid vegetation). However, the vegetation has been drastically altered over time due to human pressure.
Soils
Currently, the status of soils on the Galápagos Islands is poorly understood and associated with the 1962, 2016-2017 expeditions.
Changes in rainfall over the altitudinal gradient, from arid to humid with altitude on the higher islands, is one of the most important factors determining the age and formation of island soils. Isabela Island represents the youngest soils of the archipelago and agricultural land management on the soils of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal has shown a decrease in fertility and an increase in soil concentrations of Cd, Zn and Cu. This increase may be related to the use of agrochemicals.
Hydrology
The climatic zonation in the Galapagos Islands is characterized by humid highlands, dry lowlands, and a transition zone and these zones are especially observed in islands of intermediate height such as Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Floreana and Santiago. Among the main aquatic ecosystem types that exist in the Galapagos Islands, we highlight the saline lagoons, temporary ponds and one freshwater lake. Within all typologies, the brackish or saline lagoons and salt marshes occur in the coastal zone, in lowland areas, characterized by dry climate. The declining water quality in the freshwater sources of the inhabited islands in the Galapagos has been associated with anthropogenic activities like agricultural runoffs, discharges of untreated sewage increasing nutrient concentrations leading to the eutrophication of the water bodies and potential risks to ecosystem health.
Protection Level (IUCN category)
Category II – National Park
Land Use
primary production
primary production » agriculture
primary production » aquaculture and fishing
primary production » forestry
tertiary production
tertiary production » commercial services
tertiary production » community services
tertiary production » other services
other uses
other uses » areas where any use allowed
other uses » natural areas not in other economic use
other uses » transitional areas
Site Type
Stationary land-based site
Design of Experimentation
mainly experimentation
Scale of Experimentation
catchment scale
Design of Observation
mainly observation
Scale of Observation
plot within catchment
Permanent Power Supply
Yes
Equipment
Observation devices » Camera traps
Observation devices » Marine Platform
Observation devices » Probe continuous measurements
Observation devices » Temperature Controlled Container
Data infrastructure » Data services » Web Map Service (WMS)
Data infrastructure » Data services » Web Coverage Service (WCS)
Data infrastructure » Data services » Web Catalog Service (CSW)
Data infrastructure » Data services » Other data services
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Paper
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Spatial database (GIS)
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Spatial data file (GIS)
Data infrastructure » Data storage » Graph or object database
Supporting infrastructure » Transportation » Vehicle 2WD
Supporting infrastructure » Transportation » Helicopter
Supporting infrastructure » Transportation » Boat
Supporting infrastructure » Staff room at site » > 5 places
Supporting infrastructure » Lodging at site » > 10 beds
Energy and data transmission infrastructure » Data transmission » Data Transmission Type (from site) » Telephone line
Energy and data transmission infrastructure » Data transmission » Data Transmission Type (from site) » Satellite
Energy and data transmission infrastructure » Data transmission » Data Transmission Type (from site) » Radio transmission system (repeaters. receivers. centralstation)
Energy and data transmission infrastructure » Data transmission » Data Transmission Type (from site) » Other transmission types
Energy and data transmission infrastructure » Data transmission » Data Transmission Type (from site) » GMS/UMTS
Energy and data transmission infrastructure » Data transmission » Data Transmission Type (within site) » Satellite
Energy and data transmission infrastructure » Data transmission » Data Transmission Type (within site) » GMS/UMTS
Energy and data transmission infrastructure » Energy supply » Permanent Power Supply Location » Central station(s)
Energy and data transmission infrastructure » Energy supply » Permanent Power Produced » More than 100 kW
Equipment notes
The National Park has a large structure with rooms for meetings, rooms for researchers and students, laboratories and accommodation for researchers. In terms of equipment, there is a large structure with multi-probes for temperature, pH and other parameters, permanent probes for temperature and other parameters, equipment for laboratory analyses and others. This structure of facilities provides the conditions for carrying out biological and abiotic analyses on Santa Cruz Island, the main basis for the long-term site. However, it is important to emphasise that all the inhabited islands (Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela and Genovesa) have all the structures for sampling, such as helicopters, boats, cars for transport, etc.
Accessible All Year
Yes
All parts of Site Accessible
Yes
Access Type
regular car
Permanent Operation
Yes
Operation Notes
Monitoring is organised on a monthly and seasonal basis in approximately 20 and 62 lakes and other lentic aquatic ecosystems, respectively. The landscape is monitored by remote sensing and other sensors. For some parameters such as temperature, conductivity, pH and others, the frequency is hourly.
Site Visit Interval
12
Maintenance Interval
1
General Data Policy
Co-authorship on publications resulting from use of the dataset
The data provider must be offered co-authorship for publications using this dataset at least within the metadata description
Formal acknowledgement of the dataset providers
The opportunity to collaborate on the project using the dataset
At least part of the costs of dataset acquisition, retrieval or provision must be recovered.
The opportunity to review the results based on the dataset
Reprints of articles using the dataset must be provided to the data provider
The dataset provider is given a complete list of all products that make use of the dataset
Legal permission for dataset use is obtained
Mutual agreement on reciprocal sharing of data
The data provider is given and agrees to a statement of uses to which the dataset will be put
Data Policy Notes
The Freshwater Galapagos Programme Coordination will define a document to ensure that the research programme and the subprojects envisaged in this programme commit to making the subproject data available in a common platform or database. Once signed, each document will be attached to the programme and forwarded to the Galapagos National Park. A copy will be archived with the other documents of this programme. This unique database will facilitate the writing of articles, and papers jointly with different approaches such as multi-taxonomic, ecological redundancy, trophic interactions and modelling of climatic, landscape use, hydrological, physical, chemical and biotic markers, among others. All collaborators will be included as co-authors. The first and last author will be decided in a formal meeting. This perspective will be used in all Galapagos research programmes, such as marine, terrestrial and fauna.
LTER Site Classification
LTSER