Hello, people of the world! Welcome back to Climate Change with Tech! Thank you for waiting patiently for our posts! In case you’re new, I’m alunissage, and as of a few months ago, I’ve been posting articles on this website along with the creator of Climate Change with Tech, Robotics Girl. By the way, Robotics Girl and I have produced another episode on Everyday Climate Champions! Our episode will be airing in the coming week. It would mean a lot to us if you would check it out. Anyways, today I’ll be highlighting the Galapagos Penguin- an endangered animal whose population is only decreasing. Without further ado, let's get right into it!
Also known by their scientific name, Genus Sphenicus, these penguins are found in 4 locations across the Galapagos archipelago in Ecuador. The islands that these penguins breed on are the Isabela, Fernandina, Florena, Santiago, and several offshore outlets. They nest above sea level, and forge near the shore. Due to nutrient rich and cool ocean waters, the prey population becomes much more dense during times when there is upwelling. The Galapagos Penguin is one of the most northern breeding species of penguins, with their range being located on the equator. There is an estimated amount of 1,800 of these penguins remaining, with an expected 39% reduction in the remaining population in the next 3 generations of Galapagos Penguins. For reference, this is around 31 years. The penguins were classified as endangered in 2000. The reasoning behind their classification is rapid population decline, a small population, and the breeding locations being reduced to fewer locations and smaller range.
There are multiple threats that Galapagos penguins face, one of the many being invasive and problematic species. Invasive species like cats, rats and dogs affect the population negatively. For example, the feral cats hunted on an island where breeding takes place, which caused a 49% decrease in the population of adult penguins. The cats also could potentially carry harmful diseases. Another threat to the galapagos penguin is biological resource use. Fishing boats that operate on the inshore waters have drowned penguins due to the nets used for fishing. Also, an increasing need for bait has the potential to increase inshore bat fisheries, which exacerbates many problems. Human Intrusion is also one of the many threats Galapagos Penguins face. Human activities have allowed mosquitoes that have been infected with diseases like avian malaria and west nile virus to spread throughout the island. The penguins are more susceptible to diseases like those mentioned previously because of their smaller population size. These threats may potentially be exacerbated by expanding human population and tourism. Additional threats, along with those mentioned, have been exacerbated by climate change.
Now, you may be wondering what is currently being done to conserve this amazing species! Thankfully, there are quite a few things being done! To start, the Galapagos Penguin population is now found within the Galapagos National Park and Galapagos Marine Reserve (also known as GMR). They regulate access to the breeding sites of the penguins, and research is only allowed with special permission. Artificial nests were made in 2010 to create a higher quality breeding environment with some nests still in use today. In 2016, the president of Ecuador recommended no-fishing zones to be established in the Galapagos Marine Reserve, where the penguins breed. Lastly, an educational program has been developed for the children of the island by the National Park, along with the Galapagos Conservatory.
As always, here are some things you can do to help our environment!
Recycle! You can recycle plastic bottles and bags that include the little recycle sign
You can volunteer to help with local clean-ups!
You can help us spread the word- make people aware of what climate change is and how bad it is!
Use less disposable plastics
Try walking or riding a bike to short distances instead of a car
Plant things! It’s a fun hobby and also helps the planet a lot!
You can buy local and organic produce
Thank you for taking the time to read this! Have an amazing week, and see you next time!
alunissage
Works Cited
International), BirdLife International (BirdLife. “The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 21 Aug. 2020, www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697825/182729677#population.
“Galapagos Penguin Species.” Galapagos Conservation Trust, 11 Aug. 2021, galapagosconservation.org.uk/wildlife/galapagos-penguin/.
“Galapagos Penguin.” American Bird Conservancy, abcbirds.org/bird/galapagos-penguin/. Accessed 21 June 2023.
Commentaires