Hola mis estudiantes,
Thank you all for taking the time to tune into my blog! I’m
looking forward to sharing all of my scientific research experiences with you
here on this webpage.
The Galapagos
Islands
The Galapagos Islands – truly a beautiful and exciting place
to explore – is an ecological paradise that I wish I could share with each of
you. A stunning, vast, volcanic archipelago located 600 miles off the coast of
Ecuador, these islands are home to numerous endemic
plants and animals (flora and fauna found only here on the islands) as well as
plants and animals that have made their way to the islands from all across the
world. The islands themselves sit
at the cross-section of several major oceanic currents, each contributing to
the unique equatorial and ecological climate of the islands. In addition to the
famous Galapagos tortoises found throughout the islands, and the beautiful and
elegant finches that bounce and fly seemingly everywhere, there are also Marine
iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus).
These reptiles are the only lizards known to frequently swim in the ocean and will
be the model organism (our study
organism) on which we (and you!) will focus our research efforts throughout our
stay here. Here is a photo of a Marine iguana sunning itself on the shoreline
lava rock next to a Lava Gull (taken by Lori Neuman-Lee).
People and the
Islands
In addition to all the beautiful flora, fauna, and scenery
that surround these islands, there is also another component of the ecology
that is very apparent and continues to grow every year: people. The earliest
known people thought to visit the islands were the Incans, followed thereafter
in 1535 by a Panamanian Bishop named Fray Tomás de Berlanga. Between then and
now, whaling fleets, pirates, explorers, researchers, fishermen, and many other
people have visited the shores of the Galapagos; it is hard to ignore human presence
in the progression of the islands. After years of hardship placed here by
humans, the Galapagos Islands were granted protection by the Ecuadorian
government, and its status as a National Park was set in place.
Although the islands are protected as a National Park, a
bustling ecotourism industry lives strong (and continues to grow) on certain
parts of the islands. In addition, there are native Galapagans and people who
live here full-time that produce a stable economy on the main islands. Despite the fact that ecotourism plays
a vital role in conservation awareness and many local economies, it is also
considered a mild disturbance, and it is increasingly clear that these
activities are not without consequences to local wildlife. People from all over
the world travel here to explore the islands and its inhabitants, and these people often come into contact
with the wildlife that shares the islands, particularly the Marine iguanas; this
is where we as researchers come into the picture.
Research
Our research aims to address the impacts of the ecotourism
industry on populations of Marine iguanas. We are looking at the effects of ecotourism
and its potential impacts on the balance of energy between survival and
reproduction, which are both important to animal health and population
stability! We will test the hypotheses that (1) increasing
intensities of ecotourism will result in increasing effects on survival and
reproduction, and (2) that detrimental effects on survival and reproduction are
in part a result of altered energy acquisition and energy state.
Please post comments and ask questions and I will do the best
I can do respond quickly! Thanks again to all of you and I look forward to
sharing and talking with you more about this research!
That's amazing that the Incans were the first to visit the islands. They're my favorite and I've done so much research on them but I didn't know that. Anyway, the lizards are even cooler looking then I thought they'd be- They're HUGE
ReplyDeleteHey, HB! From what I've read, this is only speculation (notice my wording - "The earliest known people thought to visit the islands were the Incans"). The evidence comes from pottery shards found on the shorelines of some of the islands, and additional claims made by historians. Scientists and historians are not 100% confident, but there is some evidence to suggest that this is the case. And you're right about the size! They are great looking animals (they remind me of a 4-legged Godzilla). I hope to upload some more photos later on as we go for you all to see. The males are larger and more colorful than the females!
DeleteThe Galapago Islands sound like an awesome to be, I wish I were there. How hot does it get there? What other kind of animals live there?
ReplyDeleteHi T. Hansen! It is indeed a fantastic place to be - I've never seen anything like it and wish I could share it with more people. There are a wide variety of animals here, ranging from the Frigatebird (males have a massive red-colored "gular pouch" to attract females) to the few species of tiny lava lizards that roam the islands. In addition to the wildlife, there are plants (both native and non-native) that are found over much of the islands. It's amazing to think that such diversity can establish itself on islands made of 4 million year old volcanic rock!
DeleteNick,
ReplyDeleteGreat intro post! I dig the iguanas and the Lava Gull. When you say "native Galapagans" do you mean people descended from the Inca?
AMD
Thanks, Andrew! It was a great photo and an even better opportunity to watch them. When I say "native Galapagans", I'm speaking of Ecuadorian people who have established themselves here on the islands for quite some time, or are descendants from people who have done so. The Galapagos was annexed by Ecuador in 1832, and people who live on the islands refer to themselves as Galapagans.
Deletecool animals
ReplyDeleteIndeed they are, Tyler!
DeleteHi Mr. Kiriazis
ReplyDeleteMy name is Bailee Noble and I am part of Mr. MacMurdo's science class. My home work for Friday was to comment on you blog and I have a few questions. My first question is, how long are you doing the research? My last question is what are the iguanas' preditors?
Hi, B.N.!
DeleteThanks for your thoughtful and inquiring comment. We are going to be conducting research down here until January 20th. It's hard to think we'll be leaving soon, but we still have quite a bit more time down here. We have 3 more islands to visit, the first of which we'll be going to tomorrow morning. As far as marine iguana predators go, it's a sad story to say the least. Humans have introduced numerous animals to the islands (rats, cats, and dogs to name a few) and these animals prey on marine iguana adults, juveniles, and eggs. Sea lions don't regularly eat marine iguanas (that we know of) but they have been known to aggressively "play" with them in the water. Sharks around the islands could also potentially eat the iguanas while the iguanas are eating algae out at sea.
The lizards are awesome! And I didn't think they were so big, they are HUGE
ReplyDeleteYes they are, Stoney! The largest one we've seen so far has been almost 1.5 m long from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. The males are much larger than the females.
DeleteYa! I know the lizards are huge! There as big as some of the birds that live down there! Thats crazy!
DeleteThe lizards are awesome! And I didn't think they were so big, they are HUGE
ReplyDeletethat is so cool to be able to go to those islands and study those way cool looking animals! I would love to do that!
ReplyDeleteIt really is a great thing to do! To think...just a year ago, I was still dreaming of being able to come here...even just to visit.
DeleteThat is some really cool research you are doing I can't wait to hear the results. I have one question, are Marine iguanas bigger or samller than Kamodoo dragons
ReplyDeleteHey, K.A!
DeleteThanks for the compliment about the research. We are really lucky to be here. To answer your question, the marine iguanas are smaller than Komodo Dragons. Despite how it may look in the pictures, they rarely exceed 4 feet from the tip of the head to the tip of the tail.
Fun
ReplyDeleteThat looks like an awesome place to visit! The ocean looks beautiful! It would be cool to be around the lizards and their habitats and to get to know all of the different kinds of animals in that area. B. Johnson
ReplyDeleteIt really is a great privilege, B. Johnson! We are having a great time waking up to the ocean every morning, as well as engaging in tough field work. We are all enjoying the research and our time here.
DeleteHow many places in Galapagos will you be visiting?
ReplyDeleteHi, K.M.
DeleteWe will be visiting a total of 4-5 islands here on the Galapagos!
When ever I think of Iguanas I think of color change. Can these Iguanas change hue or color even if just slightly?
ReplyDeleteHi, D.F.
DeleteYou may be thinking of chameleons, anoles, or some other species that can change it's pigment to adapt to its environment. I have heard of iguanas changing their colors based on levels of stress, but nothing more then that. This doesn't mean, however, that it can't happen! To my knowledge, marine iguanas don't change color,but that doesn't mean it can't happen. A great question that has stumped me!
Sorry, my mistake thank you for correcting me.
DeleteThey look like dinosaurs. Are the lizards aggressive?
ReplyDeleteHi, G.D!
DeleteThey do like dinosaurs...there is no doubt about it. The males tend to be very aggressive towards each other. They compete for territories and for females. I'll make sure to post pictures and (hopefully) a video of this for you to see!
Mr. K,
ReplyDeleteThis Is Brookelin Waldron. How close do the marine iguanas live from where the people live? Do they have some space or are they pretty close together?
Hi B.W!
DeleteAbout 97% or so of the islands are protected from human interference. However, there are definitely populations of iguanas that come into contact with people. This is exactly what we are trying to study. We are looking at whether or not the tourism industry has had any adverse effects on the marine iguana populations. In order to do this, we are assessing populations that are in direct contact with people, as well as control groups (groups who are not in contact with people).
You said that the Galapagos Islands was home to numerous endemic plants and animals what does endemic mean?
ReplyDeleteHi C.T.,
DeleteEndemic means that the organism in question lives in this particular area, and nowhere else on the planet!
I love lizards they are like soooo cute!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Slade.
DeleteWow cool animals! I wish I was on the Galapagos Islands!
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt about that, Tay!
DeleteWhat will happen if the human interaction gets worse and starts harming the animals even more?
ReplyDeleteHi, M.R.
DeleteThis is a really interesting question. Really, it's up to the park service and USESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to decide what is to be done with the data. As scientists, we can only provide the data to the governing body and allow them to make the appropriate decisions based on the evidence with which we provide them.
its amazing what has been found there.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, S.H.
DeleteHi Mr. Kiriazis,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Kendra and I was wondering how big the iguanas are?
Hi Kendra!
DeleteThe iguanas are anywhere from 0.5 foot long to over 4-5 feet long from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. Again, males are generally larger than females.
That is awesome that you get to see all those different kinds of animals, especially the iguanas.
ReplyDeleteIt is, Dayton!
DeleteI am surprised that those iguanas are that large! Now, do you see animals that large very often there, or is it a less common experience (like it is here). Additionally, it also seems impossible that it is a tropical climate over there, whereas we here are going to around -10 degrees every night.
ReplyDeleteThey are that large - this seems to be a common theme of shock by the students! Most of what we catch are 3 feet and under, but we have seen large males that can get closer to 4-4.5 feet. We have watched large sea turtles, sea lions, as well as big birds here. However, not everything is large on these islands!
DeleteAnd I wish I could send some of this climate your way...-10 degrees at night sounds miserable from down here. Hang in there and stay warm!
I'm very interested to see some results! Where do the majority of the iguanas live?
ReplyDeleteWe are too, Sophie! Can't wait to share it with you. The marine iguanas mostly live on the shoreline amongst the lava boulders. They live there to access their main food item - algae in the ocean.
Deletegood to see that there doing ok in that habitat
ReplyDeleteFrom our observations and counts, they're doing great.
DeleteIt is nice to see all the animals and how they are doing.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you're happy about it.
DeleteWow that is really interesting and cool it would be awesome to be there and see everything in real life. Those iguanas are huge i wish i could actually go there and see them for my self.
ReplyDeleteSave your money and one day you'll be here!
Deleteprety cool looking island
ReplyDeleteThey're some of the coolest.
DeleteOh man these are the coolest iguanas of all time!!!
ReplyDeleteYes they are!
DeleteI Really like that picture of the lizard and the bird. I cant really recall a single time I have seen a lizard that huge and right next to a Bird that's little more than half its size!
ReplyDeleteI'm really happy you liked the picture! It was the perfect time to click the shutter, and I'm really happy that she did!
DeleteIt is amazing that with all of the people and tourists that come and go there, that there is still a marine life of iguanas!
ReplyDeleteThis is partially thanks to the park service and their restrictions of where tourists can go! People are not allowed to touch or harass the wildlife anywhere on the islands. People are only able to live on a few of the islands, and most of the space here is restricted. This helps make sure that the wildlife here is happy and healthy.
DeleteI think it is amazing that there is still a marine life of iguanas after all of the people and tourists that have been there!
ReplyDeleteA strikingly similar comment to the one above. The park service has really helped them out!
DeleteIn a normal situation how many of the baby iguanas survive to see adulthood?
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question, and to be honest, I don't know the answer. My guess would be that the harsh environment here (heat, how they get food, competition, limited resources, etc.) would really restrict the amount of baby iguanas that survive to see adulthood. Maybe you'll be the next scientist down here that addresses that question!
DeleteThis is a very cool research opportunity. I hope that you can learn more about the iguanas and help keep them protected.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'll do the best I can to try and help you out with both.
DeleteSo I have a question, is it colder there than most places you would find iguanas? Because it seems like all the iguanas do is just bask most of the day.
ReplyDeleteThey do bask a lot...in the heat of the day here, it can get incredibly hot. However, the ocean currents coming in and out make it so that it doesn't get too stifling. Because of the food source utilized by the iguanas, they must bask a lot to regain their heat. The ocean will sap the warmth from them quickly, so they must eat and return to the basking spot quickly. Great question and observation!
Deletewhat temperature is it there, that makes it so sustainable for marine iguanas and what do they primarily eat?
ReplyDeleteIt is roughly 80 degrees in the heat of the day and around 65 or so at night. But because we are at the equator, the sun is HOT! And really, the iguanas over time have suited themselves to the environment, not the other way around. They eat algae of the ocean floor!
DeleteSounds fun. I would love to visit the island and see all the animals.
ReplyDeleteLove it hard enough and you'll get here!
DeleteHow long have the Galapagos Islands been a National Park?
ReplyDeleteSince the 1960's.
DeleteSo the iguanas are mostly herbivours right? And if they were hungry enough could they be carnivorous?
ReplyDeleteThey are primarily herbivorous. My guess would be that it wouldn't work out so well for them, since their head, teeth, and digestive system have evolved to eat algae. Do a bit of research on this one and see what you can find out! I'd love to learn more.
DeleteSounds pretty cool! Hope those silly iguanas don't try and eat you! They look very scary!
ReplyDeleteIt is. Lucky for me, I'm not anywhere close to their menu!
DeleteWow you must be having fun out there! How long do the iguanas usually sun themselves for?
ReplyDeleteWe are! They really sun themselves most of the day. In the heat of the day, some of them go under rocks or in the water to thermoregulate (since they are ectothermic). Great question!
DeleteI really like the pictures they are very pretty, and i would really like to visit there some time.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy you enjoy them.
DeleteHow do the iguanas get this big? is there anywhere else in the world that these iguanas live?
ReplyDeleteEat, sun, eat, poop, eat, and repeat. Mating and fighting are in there too. They live here and only here!
DeleteAre there platypuses on the island. Bella P. 1st per. science. MacMurdo.
ReplyDeleteNo, there are not.
DeleteDo you often see them or do you have to look around for them and find them in a certain place( like what kind of environment do they live in ).
ReplyDeleteThey tend to live on the shoreline along craggy, rocky, volcanic spots. They tend to congregate together, and spend much of their time sunning themselves and feeding in the ocean.
DeleteThat is really amazing! I want to know more about what the tourism is doing to the environment (example, housing, getting rid of trees ect.) and I'm really exited for your next post about it! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm looking forward to finding out more myself.
DeleteIguanas are sweet animals, I wish I could go and study them. Do you know about how many Marine Iguanas are left in the world? How are the mosquitos out there?
ReplyDeleteWell, population estimates for the islands are in the thousands. Since they're only here, they've got a limited capacity to grow due to limited resources (including space). But they're really prolific here, and seem to be doing well. Mosquitos aren't bad at all! We've killed a few and have had a few vampire us in the middle of the night.
Deletei thought your blog was super cool and very informational i learned a lot about the Galapagos Island :)
ReplyDeleteGreat!
Deletei think your blog is super cool and very informational I learned a lot about the Galapagos Island :)
ReplyDeleteGreat, thank you.
DeleteI agree with Dayton on that its cool how you get to see so many different animals and how you get to learn about iguanas... ive always thought iguanas were very interesting. Let us know what happens.
ReplyDeleteI will make sure to do so.
DeleteThat's cool that you are able to see all the cool animals, I wish I could. Good luck.
ReplyDeletedo they have camouflage? are they green colored or are they just a normal brown grey color? can the iguanas change color? do you know what their habitats are like?
ReplyDeleteWhen they are juveniles, they tend to be almost black. When they are sub-adults, they are also almost black. Adults tend to be more variably colored, but still have a base color of black. Considering they spend most of their time on black, volcanic rock, this makes a lot of sense! They can't change their color (that I know of). However, adult males may have more red and/or green and white then black.
DeleteExtremely interesting results! The iguanas are quite creepy looking, how do you know what gender they are? Are they different in color or body structure, what?
ReplyDeleteTo each, their own. We really enjoy them, and think they look prehistoric. They're like modern dinosaurs. We can tell whether or not they are male or female by the height of the dorsal spines on their back. Higher and larger are males, and smaller and shorter are females. Also, adult males tend to be much larger than adult females, and they also tend to be redish and green.
DeleteThe Galapagos sound like a really cool place! I cant wait to learn more about the people and everything about it. How many kinds of iguanas are at the islands?
ReplyDeleteThere are only 2 types of iguanas on these islands (marine and land iguanas). There are different subspecies on particular islands, but that is an entirely different discussion. Not every islands or islet has both (or either), but here on Isabela for example, there are both land and marine iguanas.
DeleteThis is all very interesting! The Galapagos islands sound like very cool places to be! What are some other major problems (or things) that cause the population to decrease?
ReplyDeleteThey are a great place to be! We're veyr happy to be here. Other problems that cause populations to decrease are numerous. Any severe changes in weather can have significant effects of populations. A few years ago, there was a severe el nino system that moved into the area and wiped out a substantial portion of a population of marine iguanas. Climate change is another issue that may be putting pressure of the marine iguanas. And, as always, human interference is a major problem that can cause population decreases.
DeleteThe Iguanas are so cool! They are way bigger than I expected!!
ReplyDeleteGalapagos seems like a very exciting place to be. I was wonderig if you were already starting to see any differences in the lizards?
ReplyDeleteNothing yet. Since we haven't done any of the tests to look at the hormone levels, we have yet to see any real differences. We have yet to really analyze the data. We want to make sure to not go into the research with a particular bias towards results, so we will analyze the data when the field work is over. Great question!
DeleteI didn't think that those iguanas could get that big but they are really cool.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool that your doing and I wish you good luck in of the things you need to do. I have a few questions like what made you want to do this and what are you wanting as a regular job as a scientist
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wishes! I've loved reptiles and amphibians ever since I was a kid, and when given the opportunity to work with these amazing animals (in the Galapagos no less) I couldn't pass it up! I hope to become a science teacher in some form during my career, but also hope to continue to be involved in research.
DeleteCan you find the iguanas anywhere else in the world?
ReplyDeleteThey are found here and only here!
DeleteWhat kind of things to the marine iguanas eat? How big are they? In the picture they look pretty big.
ReplyDeleteThey eat algae on the ocean floor and can grow to about 4-4.5 feet with the big males. Females are usually under 3 feet.
DeleteThe iguanas are a lot bigger than I expected.
ReplyDeleteYep!
Deletethe iguanas look like dragons but smaller and they are really cool how long do you think you will be down there?
ReplyDeleteWe will be down here for 10 more days (20 days total).
Deletebesides the fact that marine iguans swim and the land ones don't what are some of the other major difrences.
ReplyDeleteSince they are specialized for two completely different environments, they are very different reptiles! Since I don't know too much about the land iguanas, you should do some research, and educate myself and your classmates. Also, check out my natural history post about the marine iguanas. There is more information there.
DeleteDo you think that the iguanas can move to other areas other than the gallapagos islands?
ReplyDeleteGreat question! I think they are very specialized to survive in the Galapagos, and will stay there unless there is a reason to leave. They may be able to adapt elsewhere, but this is all speculative.
Deletehey mister K,
ReplyDeletejust wondering if you or any of your associats have been hurt buy the iguanas and buy you capturing them doesent it make them more accustomed to people? so are you harming them by doing your tests? or is it such a small time you have them that it doesent hurt them?
Hey how is it going? What is the envirement like? Are there a lot of trees and water resources? What is your internet and cell phone service like? What has been your favorite part visiting there?
DeleteNone of us have been hurt. All of our work is dedicated to also ensuring that the individuals we work on are kept safe and healthy. We only hold on to them for a short time, as to limit their exposure to harm. And while handling them for a short time may stress them out, we feel that the data we collect can help protect larger populations of iguanas in the future; this is how we justify the limited stress to a few individuals.
DeleteThe environment is beautiful. Check out some of the photos for more! There are a number of different regions within the Galapagos, and most are varied with their proximity to the ocean and altitude. The internet and cell phone service is very poor since we're 600 miles in the middle of the ocean. My favorite part has been sharing these experiences with you all!
Deletethese iguanas are bigger than i had expected they are really cool looking, some questions i have are do the iguanas bite? how big do male iguanas get and how big do female iguanas get? does it affect the iguanas when you do those tests? and do the iguanas stay still when you are going to pick it up or dose it run away? another thing is how do you remember witch iguana you tested one day is the same iguana, i know you told us about the beads you put on them but how do you find them again when you go back to do more tests. bye and have fun
ReplyDeleteThese are all great questions. Check out my natural history post for more info on the iguanas, and the research post for more about how we track them!
Deleteso why exactly do you do these marine iguanas? do you know if they are going extinct or if their species is special from other iguanas or reptiles? Or any other animal(s) in general?
ReplyDeleteSince they are found in large populations both around tourists and in pristine locations, they are a great model organism to study the effects of tourism. They are numerous within their range too. The principal investigator is also a reptile specialist, and has worked on these animals before.
DeleteI wanted to know do the marine iguanas have the gills or somethimg to breathe while swimming or do the swim above water so they can always breath
ReplyDeleteNo they don't have gills, but do have other means of staying submerged for long periods of time. I'm not quite sure if they hold their breath or use other measures of retaining oxygen.
DeleteAre the iguanas native to the island or have they been intoduced to the Galapagos by people?
ReplyDeleteOur best guess is that they originated from South America, ended up on the islands long ago, and have evolved to best fit the environment since their arrival.
DeleteHi Mister K,
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering if the Iguanas could adapt to other places or if they are strictly adapted to their own environment. Also I was wondering if they can climb trees and stuff.
Animals adapt only to their environment. This is what shapes their evolution! If they were moved to other areas, they may or may not be able to survive there, and chances are, over many, many years, they would adapt to the new location if they were able to survive. They tend to stay along the shoreline, but they may be able to climb trees (and stuff) if they needed to. Their claws are very sharp and their muscles are well adapted to climbing over rock.
Deletehey mr k! I just wanted to ask you about some physical characteristics of the iguanas. like for example; how fast can they run? are there different groups of them that react different to different circumstances? how well can they blend in with their surroundings? or how do they defend themselves? I would also like to say good luck on the rest of your visit and I hope you find more interesting things out about the iguanas.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the best wishes! Check out my natural history post about marine iguanas for information like this.
DeleteThank you for taking the time to make this blog, and answering our questions.I have a few questions my first is do you have any information on iguana population compared to years with more or less tourism?Also do you know the purpose for the dorsal spines is it for defense, or to look intimidating? One last question you described some jobs, so I was wondering what yours is.
ReplyDeleteThese are great questions! I don't have information regarding population trends and how they've varied. My guess, however, would be that they cycle just as many populations do. They are limited in their growth based on the resources they have available to them. But this would be very interesting to look at. And I'm not sure regarding your question about the dorsal spines. They are longer in males than females, so maybe is has something to do with sexual selection. It also streamlines them in the water when they swim, so there could be applications there too. And I have held every job so far from the one's I've described! My primary purpose, though, in addition to helping out with research, was to share this all with you. Hopefully, I've succeeded!
DeleteReally pretty place! Are the iguanas faster on land or in water? They are really cool looking! What is the average life span of an iguana?
ReplyDeleteThey are really quick in both environments, not sure which they're faster in. Their average lifespan varies depending on the animal, but they can live well over 10 years.
DeleteHey Mr. K! I was just wondering, why is your focus set merely on the marine iguanas in the area? Wouldn't tourists and other things disrupt the lifestyle of many other critters on the island as well? I love reading your blog and being kept posted about your trip! I'm super jealous!
ReplyDeleteSince they are found in large populations both around tourists and in pristine locations, they are a great model organism to study the effects of tourism. They are numerous within their range too. The principal investigator is also a reptile specialist, and has worked on these animals before.
DeleteThanks for the great compliment! We love doing the work!
Hi Mr. K! I was wondering why the Iguanas have such sharp teeth if all they eat is seaweed and algae? And do they have many predators?
ReplyDeleteIn order to effectively scrape algae off rocks, as well as chew through the tough fibers of marine algae, they must have blunt, yet sharp teeth!
DeleteHumans have introduced numerous animals to the islands (rats, cats, and dogs to name a few) and these animals prey on marine iguana adults, juveniles, and eggs. Sea lions don't regularly eat marine iguanas (that we know of) but they have been known to aggressively "play" with them in the water. Sharks around the islands could also potentially eat the iguanas while the iguanas are eating algae out at sea.
I was wonderinging when the Incain people cam and the explores in 1535 were the iquanas there.
ReplyDeleteYes.
Deletehow long do you test the marine aguanas. has anyone gotten hurt while testing them. what is the iguanas diet? how do a mojority of them act around humans? this is a very cool experiment that you are doing i hope you can find the answer
ReplyDeleteSift through some of your classmates' comments and questions! Many of these have been asked and I've answered them all. Read the most up-to-date posts as well.
DeleteMr.K, i was wondering, how do the iguanas know your safe? i mean the ones on the beaches get to be picked up and held and everything. werent they afraid at one point or is that how they grew up? around people? they look big, how do you catch them? and when you do catch them do they try to get free in the bag or wut ever you put them in. do they have like a cry?
ReplyDeleteLots of questions!
DeletePeople are't allowed to touch them since most of the area is a national park - the animals are all protected. So if they are exposed for people long enough, and aren't harmed, then they grow used to seeing people around. If they had a natural predator, over time, they would evolve to avoid them. Since humans aren't predators or immediate threats, they tend to be very docile around us. We catch them by picking them up, and no, they don't make any noise. Since they're not used to being handled, they indeed do try to get free. But once we have the information we're looking for, we let them go back to the place of capture.
Those are some cool iguanas. I found it interesting on how you do your test, but when you try to find the iguana you tested wouldn't it be easier to put a chip that tracts its whereabouts.
ReplyDeleteThink about how much more of a financial investment that would be. We would need to pay for the tracker, as well as the chips - very, very expensive. Our way is economical, but effective as well.
DeleteHI mr. k how many islands are there and are there iguanas on every island or only a few.
ReplyDeleteThere are 13 main islands, 6 smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets. There are iguanas on many of them, but I would guess not all of them.
DeleteHi Mr. k I was just wondering why did you guys chose iguanas to test over there? is there something special about theses iguanas?
ReplyDeleteSince they are found in large populations both around tourists and in pristine locations, they are a great model organism to study the effects of tourism. They are numerous within their range too. The principal investigator is also a reptile specialist, and has worked on these animals before.
DeleteAwesome! When you showed our class that the iguanas could bite i had a question. Can or do the iguanas carry any diseases? or is it just a little bite?
ReplyDeleteMost diseases are organism specific, and can't be transferred to other organisms. To my knowledge, marine iguanas don't carry anything that can affect humans.
Deletehow many animals do you see a day and how many different kinds are there. it must be alot also how do you sew the bead pattern on the iguana?
ReplyDeleteWe see far too many to count, but there is quite a diversity here. From birds, to lizards, to fish, we see a lot! Dr. Dale Denardo, a certified veterinarian, uses surgical needles and fishing line to attach the beads just below their spines.
DeleteHow many types of iguanas are there?
ReplyDeleteThere are two species of iguana here on the Galapagos, the marine and land iguanas.
DeleteHey do the iguanas get in fights with other small animals or are they pretty peaceful.
ReplyDeleteCan you be more specific? What animals and why would they get into fights?
DeleteCan the iguanas eat each other? Or what do they eat?
ReplyDeleteThey are herbivorous, and don't eat each other. Check out my natural history post about marine iguanas to answer your question.
DeleteMr.K you told our class that these iguanas can only be found in the Galapagos Islands, is there any other animals that can only be found their that can't be found anywhere else on Earth?
ReplyDeleteThere are quite a few animals found here and nowhere else. Do a bit more research on your own time to find out how many, but the galapagos tortoise is one of my other favorites!
DeleteHey well im jut a little curious about the lizards can they get diseases? And if they can, can it spread to a human and make them really sick? And are these kind of lizards rare? Or are they common down on thoSe islands? If they are rare do they have resevores for them?
ReplyDeleteThese are all great questions! Check out my natural history post for answers to these questions. They are incredibly common on the islands, but are found nowhere else on the planet. Since 97% of the land is designated as a national park, they are protected within those boundaries.
DeleteHow many species are there on the galapagos? I think there should be more than here. I hypothesize that the reason for more species is that our latitude is higher than the galapagos and colder, too, so less species will be able to survive in our town.
ReplyDeleteThere aren't necessarily more of less species, but different animals adapted to different locations. Because of our altitude and latitude, we see animals that are adapted to that climate, as well as many migrating birds that pass through. It's all about resources, how many resources there are, and what kind of adaptations the lifeforms have made to their environment.
Deletewhat happens when the beads fall off?
ReplyDeleteHopefully they won't! We wouldn't be able to know what that animal was, and would potentially have to remove their data from the research.
DeleteHey do the iguanas live in familys so to speak or do they live independently?
ReplyDeleteThey are very communal in their living, and tend to spend their time in groups. Males may go out on their own to establish new territory, but their necessary resources keep them limited to particular places.
DeleteWhat kind of animals do you see out there and how many different species are there you see?
ReplyDeleteThere are a wide variety of animals here, ranging from the Frigatebird (males have a massive red-colored "gular pouch" to attract females) to the few species of tiny lava lizards that roam the islands. In addition to the wildlife, there are plants (both native and non-native) that are found over much of the islands. It's amazing to think that such diversity can establish itself on islands made of 4 million year old volcanic rock!
DeleteAre these iguanas only native to this island or do they thrive on other islands or anywhere else? Also i heard that their main food source is an algea of some sort is that all they eat or do they have other food sources to help keep themselves alive?
ReplyDeleteCheck out my natural history post about marine iguanas for information like this.
Deletehow long is the marine iguanas lifespan usually? how long can they usually grow in length?
ReplyDeleteCheck out my natural history post about marine iguanas for information like this.
DeleteI'm wondering if what u r doing is affecting the life span of the marine iguana 's because of u tagging them an all?
ReplyDeleteThere is no research to suggest that handling marine iguanas affects the longevity of their life. However, because our intervention with them is brief, and the tagging is minor (and eventually removed), I would guess that the chance of us affecting their life spans is very, very remote. However, this is a great idea to consider, and is one of the many reasons why our methods have been reviewed, supported and corroborated by other scientists. One of our primary goals, in addition to gaining a better understanding of our study system, is to ensure that all iguanas are protected.
Deletehey again mr k. thank you for directing me to where to look for the physical characteristics of the iguanas. also you can call me C.B. I'd like to ask you one more question. how is it that the iguanas know that you are not a big threat? how would they know if someone was a big threat to them? and also, are you enjoying it over there?
ReplyDeleteWhy is ecotourism good or bad for the environment? What are some advantages and disadvantages for me in my daily life with ecotourism? I'm not sure I fully understand what ecotourism is and why it is good or bad? Can you give me a better explanation of what ecotourism is.
ReplyDeleteHow come you test on the iguanas instead of other animals? Why not test on a variety of different animals? Is it because the iguanas are very abundant on the Galapagos?
ReplyDeleteHow is ecotourism important to animals health and population stability.
ReplyDeletewhat other species do you see besides sea lions and iguanas?
ReplyDeleteThere are a wide variety of animals here, ranging from the Frigatebird (males have a massive red-colored "gular pouch" to attract females) to the few species of tiny lava lizards that roam the islands. In addition to the wildlife, there are plants (both native and non-native) that are found over much of the islands. It's amazing to think that such diversity can establish itself on islands made of 4 million year old volcanic rock!
Deletethe iguanas are a cool type of lizards i wonder if they can go a day without the sun light
ReplyDeleteI know they can! However, prolonged exposure to a lack of sun wouldn't be a good thing. If there is limited sun (really cloudy days), I would imagine they would alter their behavior to maximize sun exposure.
DeleteThrough your research, have you figured out about how far that they can hear? Also if they see black and white, or all colors
ReplyDelete