Darwin Initiative awards grant to project on Climate Change and the conservation of Galapagos endemic bird species
Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, April 14, 2003
A project designed by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit of the University of Oxford in conjunction with the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation in the Galapagos Islands has been awarded a grant by the Darwin Initiative, a biodiversity grants programme run and funded by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the UK. The project, to be carried out in 2003-2006, will conduct scientific research into the effects of climate change, introduced predators and fisheries, and the effect of these factors on three endangered bird species in Galapagos – the Galapagos penguin, Mangrove finch and the Flightless cormorant.
Background
The western coast of the Galapagos is regarded as the most diverse and productive zone of the Galapagos archipelago. 95% of the Galapagos penguin populations, 98% of the Mangrove finch and 100% of the Flightless cormorant populations occur there.
These endemic bird species have populations of less than 1500 individuals, are listed as threatened by the IUCN- Birdlife International and occur mainly on western Galapagos where most fishing activities currently take place.
The high productivity of western Galapagos also provides most of the fisheries that are currently exploited from the archipelago. Conflicts often arise due to the different interests of the conservation and fishing sectors; however, their resolution is difficult as information needed for the zoning of the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR), or scientifically based management plans, are not available.
Objectives of the Project
The main objective of the project is the conservation of the three endemic and endangered bird species and associated biodiversity by strengthening local capacities for scientific research, practical conservation, ecological monitoring, decision-making and sustainable management.
Climate change, El Niño and La Niña
Population surveys carried out by the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galapagos National Park Service in the last three decades suggest that extreme environmental factors such as El Niño can cause population crashes in seabirds such as the Galapagos Penguin and the Flightless Cormorant. Strong El Niño events may reduce the population by more than 50% through mortality of adult birds, while weak El Niño events may suppress or significantly reduce the reproductive success of the species.
The reduced population sizes caused by El Niño may make these bird species vulnerable to factors such as predators, black rats or interaction with fisheries (directly or indirectly through competition for food).
On the other hand, for terrestrial organisms such as the Mangrove Finch, excessively wet El Niño periods may be beneficial by increasing plant or arthropod food availability. Conversely, the Mangrove Finch may suffer population crashes during the dry cold El Niño conditions of La Niña.
Surveys also suggest that each species responds differently to the El Niño cycle. However, although there is evidence of the effects of El Niño, such as changing population trends, there is still little known about their mechanisms. It is known that precipitation is a factor in the start of the breeding seasons of Darwin's Finches. In contrast, it is thought that the Galapagos Penguin does not breed when sea surface temperatures are above 24 degrees Celsius.
As both precipitation and sea surface temperatures are regarded as good indices of El Niño, the project will test the hypothesis that these two factors can accurately predict measurable bird population changes.
Methodology
- Monitoring devices will be employed to measure both physical factors on land and in the water at several locations in the western part of the archipelago.
- By marking about one-third of the respective bird populations, the reproductive output, foraging behaviour, movements and dispersion of individuals will be studied.
- These parameters will be correlated with sea surface temperatures and precipitation across the area (at different locations) and through time (rainy season vs dry season, or El Niño vs La Niña).
- Maps will be produced that include physical information (precipitation and sea surface temperature), biological information on the bird species (main breeding sites, movements and foraging ranges), distribution of introduced rats, and fisheries data (locations used by fishermen).
There is a unique opportunity to carry out this work because there is already data available on fisheries and on the penguin and cormorant populations, which will support the results from this project. The project is further helped by the broad-ranging expertise of the partners involved.
Results
Expected results include the training of students and park wardens, management plans, manuals, technical reports, publications, workshops, multilayered database and dissemination outputs.
The multi-layered maps that will be produced using an existing Geographical Information System (GIS) at the Charles Darwin Foundation, will be essential elements in proposing a zoning scheme for the Galapagos Marine Reserve in the western part of the Galapagos Islands.
At least eight Ecuadorian students will be trained in research methodologies and conservation biology, and eight park wardens are to be trained in wildlife management and monitoring techniques. Hernan Vargas, a Galapagos-born PhD student, beneficiary of this grant and mentor of the project said: "This is a unique and innovative project that will certainly benefit the local people and have a long-term positive effect on biodiversity conservation in Galapagos".
Press Contact:
Charles Darwin Research Station
Galapagos-Ecuador
E-mail: cdrs@fcdarwin.org.ec
Visit: www.darwinfoundation.org
Phone/Fax: 593-5-526-147/146