
The dataZone is a collection of applications, accesible both online and inside the Charles Darwin Research Station, providing access to all the scientific information stored in several databases, product of almost 60 years of research in the Galapagos Islands.
Some of these systems include the natural history collection's information, geographic information systems, metereological data management systems and even multimedia resources.
All of dataZone’s applications will be available shortly, including specialized search engines, species lists, taxonomic navigators, etc. Currently we are migrating all the services from our old server to a new and higher-performance server. Visit us often so that you can take advantage of all the new applications we will provide.
Natural History Collections Database
Explore more than 100,000 specimens virtually through the Collections Database of the Charles Darwin Foundation. The Collections Database is the digital home for the Natural History Collection at the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galapagos.
The database includes records of collected physical specimens, as well as virtual records of species occurrence within the Islands (observational records) and records of Galapagos specimens held at collaborating institutions.
Like the physical collection, the online database is separated into four smaller Natural History Collections: the Herbarium (CDS), the Terrestrial Invertebrate Collection (ICCDRS), the Marine Invertebrate Collection (MCCDRS), and the Vertebrate Collection (VCCDRS).
Digitized records of specimens from all collections are catalogued in a searchable MariaDB database with standardized fields and method of entry. Information included in records includes where possible the full taxonomy to the lowest level possible, collection notes, collection location and ecological information.
A mapping application is also available within DataZone that shows the location of the specimen of interest, with the option of also mapping all of the locations of the same species with records in the collection. The number of records that have been digitized varies by collection, with more old records entered into the database every year.
We are working in a new system to produce and publish the species checklists for the Galapagos Islands. While we finish developing these systems, you can access previous publications of our species checklists.
Specimens 119834 Species 17058 Scientists 1691 Localities 204 Institutions 38 Collections 51
Story maps

We tell you some teasers
of our scientific productions,
with the combination of
geographical information,
narrative text, images
and multimedia content.
We use the potentiality
of maps and geography
to tell you a story.
Google Earth, a cost-effective tool for mapping mangroves
With the Very High Resolution Images of Google Earth, we reached a better mangrove cartography. Here our experience and results.
Mangrove Map Comparative Analysis
We invite you to a dynamic navigation between two maps at the same time Try to identify the differences in the new and old mangrove cartography.
Concentration of Sampling Data of Datazone Collections Database
In this storymap we analize in which places of The Galapagos we have more or less collected biological information.