10 SPECIES INTRODUCED TO THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS - BIOLOGY - 2024

Some of the species introduced in the Galapagos Islands are the goat, the supirrosa, the donkey, the black rat, the wild blackberry or the Castile pigeon. At present, the Galapagos archipelago encompasses more than 1,430 introduced species; that is, species that are not endemic to that region.

Consequently, these species had to be transported (voluntarily or involuntarily) by man, sometimes altering the balance of the ecosystem, and putting the life of native Galapagos species at risk.

According to the Galapagos National Park, the institution in charge of the environmental preservation of the Galapagos Islands, in that region there are 950 foreign plants, 452 invertebrates and 30 vertebrates introduced into the Archipelago.

List of introduced species in the Galapagos Islands

Goat (Capra hircus)

It was introduced to the Galapagos Islands in the mid-17th century. It is one of the most damaging invasive species in the Archipelago, due to its savagery.

Goats have attacked the endemic flora and fauna of the Galapagos, breaking into their territory and threatening the survival of these species.

Supirrose (

Commonly known as supirrosa, strawberry or cariaquito, it is a thorny shrub approximately 2 meters high. Its flowers are yellow and red, and it is very striking for the vividness of its colors.

Black rat (Rattus rattus)

They usually feed on the eggs and offspring of animals typical of the Archipelago, and are also carriers of deadly diseases such as: leptospirosis, scabies, typhoid fever, among others.

Donkey (Equus asinus)

Its existence in the Galapagos Islands is reported since 1832, at which time it was introduced in Galapagos to help man in transport logistics within the islands, but its spread got out of order.

Wild blackberry (rubus niveus)

It has characteristics of a climbing shrub, and is currently considered a pest in the Galapagos Islands, given the speed of its spread.

Today strong pest control measures are implemented in the Archipelago, especially on Santa Cruz Island, which is the area most visited by tourists.

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis)

Known as the passion fruit, the passion fruit is a fruit tree whose dispersion within the islands got out of control, and is currently considered a pest.

The passion fruit, like the wild blackberry, competes with endemic plants for water and light, hence both pose a significant danger to native species in Galapagos.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.)

Guava, sometimes called guava or apple guava, is also an introduced species in the Galapagos.

Similar to the case of passion fruit and wild blackberry, their rapid spread in the area represents a risk for the native species of the Archipelago.

Parasitic fly (philornis downsi)

This fly lays its eggs in the nests of birds, and its larvae feed on the blood of the young, which affects their development and induces the death of the chicks.

Castile pigeon (Columba livia)

This species carries diseases such as Newcastle virus and encephalitis, which severely affect poultry.

Consequently, the presence of the Castile pigeon harms poultry production in the Galapagos.

Gueco (Phyllodactylus reissii)

Known as Gecko reissi, it is a scaly reptile, it feeds on insects, fruits and even small mammals and reptiles, which also poses a threat to endemic Galapagos species.

References

1. Invasive Species of Galapagos: Bad Animals (2004). Recovered from: hear.org
2. Invasive species in Galapagos (2014). Source: Galapagos National Park. Guayaquil, Ecuador. Recovered from: ecuadoracolores.com
3. Man leads the list of invasive species of the Galapagos Islands (2011). The Telegraph newspaper. Quito, Ecuador. Recovered from: eltelegrafo.com.ec
4. Research on species introduced to protect the Galapagos Islands (2017). Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos - Ecuador. Recovered from: darwinfoundation.org
5. What is an introduced species? (2011). Interinstitutional Committee for Management and Control of Introduced Species. San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos - Ecuador. Recovered from: angelfire.com