Climate Change Menaces Galapagos - Scientists

PlanetArk 30 Apr 09;

WASHINGTON - The unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands -- penguins, fur seals, swimming iguanas and flightless birds -- is profoundly threatened by climate change, scientists said on Wednesday.

Animals and plants are likely to face specific threats from invasive species and disease, reduced food sources and damage to coastal habitats from warming oceans and rising sea levels, the scientists said after a workshop on the impact of global warming on biodiversity on these Pacific islands.

"If we want the unique biodiversity of the Galapagos to survive for future generations we have to help it to adapt to climate change," said Emily Pidgeon of Conservation International, which convened the workshop in the islands last week.

The Galapagos Islands, located about 600 miles (970 km) off South America's coast along the equator and a province of Ecuador, are volcanic islands with a vast array of native species.

One of the species most at risk is the Galapagos fur seal, which could be threatened by an expected drop in the number of fish, their main food source, and an increased threat of disease, the scientists said in a statement.

Galapagos penguins may require "apartments" to recreate their preferred nesting conditions and provide shade and protection from introduced predators in areas outside their usual nesting sites, the statement said.

Coral reefs are threatened by changes in ocean temperature and acidity, while warmer waters are also causing more tropical Pacific fish to swim into the northern part of the Galapagos.

The Galapagos marine iguana, already considered vulnerable, could face high mortality levels, and the flightless cormorant could be threatened by nest flooding and other environmental fluctuations.

English naturalist Charles Darwin developed his evolution theory in the 19th century after studying the islands' unique animal population.

(Editing by Eric Beech)