Galapagos flora and fauna facts ultimate

Mrs. Johanna Fabre

Science

9th grade

Logos Academy

Galapagos Flora and fauna facts

Scientists point out 3 ways of flora beginings in Galapagos Islands:

Flora Origins

Vegetation rafts travelled through rivers

Spores and seeds transported by the wind

Seeds stuck on migrating birds

The islands have only 800 species, due to the difficult conditions to adapt.

The plants used mechanisms of natural selection and evolution:

Insular giantismXeromorphismEndemic flora varies form island to island. 32% of the islands plants are endemic.Wild tomato, Lava cacti, palo santo, Darwin’s cotton , are some of them.

Natural Selection and evolution

Sea lions and penguins came from the Antartids through Humboldt current.

Tortoises have adapted to each island, their shells are different.

Marine life has the largest number of species brought by the 4 currents of the Pacific ocean.

Fauna origins

Critical thinking:Write on your notebook 3 situations you think

may harm the endemic species of Galapagos islands.

Classwork

Anthropological activity:Plants introductionAnimals introductionInternal migrationTourismIndustrial fishing

Threats to the biodiversity

Now compare!

Now, explain in your own words why these threats affect the biodiversity of the islands.

Classwork #2

VocabularyWrite on your notebook what you understand by the following terms:• Xeromorphism• Erosion• Endemism• Weathering

Classwork # 3

Answer the following questions on your notebook.

What are the two most important things about the Galapagos Islands?

What might be done to help protect the island’s special animal and places? List at least 2 things.

Classwork #4

Paste pictures of the islands’ animals and write their name next to it picture.

Homework for next class!