VOA科学技术2024--Ecuador's Galapagos Islands Face Many Threats

Ecuador's Galapagos Islands Face Many Threats

The Galapagos, a group of islands in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, are coming under increased pressure.

Observers say climate change and invasive species threaten wildlife on and around the islands, which are part of the South American country of Ecuador.

Warming ocean waters affect the food sources of many of the sea animals around the Galapagos.

Marine¹ iguanas² are one of many species that are unique to the Galapagos. The reptiles⁴ have a harder time finding the food they prefer - red and green algae⁵. A recent Associated Press (AP) report said sea turtles struggle to nest in warmer temperatures. Raising young gets harder as water warms and fewer nutrients⁶ are available.

"We have something of everything here - that's why people say the Galapagos is so diverse - but we have a small number of each thing," said Natasha Cabezas, a naturalist⁷ guide.

A changing climate

The Galapagos Islands are famous for animals that were studied by Charles Darwin in the 1800s. He developed the theory that living things change over large amounts of time.

The group of islands is where major ocean currents meet - cool water from the south, warm water from the north, and a cold current from the west. In addition to those, there is El Ni?o, the periodic and natural Pacific Ocean warming that affects weather worldwide.

While temperatures depend on the season and other natural climate events, scientists say ocean temperatures have been rising. They blame climate change caused by human activities.

Some scientists say the ocean has reached its warmest level since at least the 1800s within the last 10 years. The U.S. space agency NASA says 2023 was the ocean's warmest year on record.

In the Southern Hemisphere, June is the first month of winter. One of the ocean currents, the Cromwell current, brings sea creatures like whale sharks, hammerheads, and sunfish to the surface. It also provides nutrients for penguins⁸, marine iguanas and sea lions in search of food.

Scientists are studying how the past year's El Ni?o affected⁹ those creatures.

El Ni?o can bring food shortages for some species like marine iguanas and sea turtles. Scientists observing the species have noted¹⁰ a decrease in their populations during El Ni?o events.

Marine iguanas were "one of the most affected species from El Ni?o last year and right now they are still recovering," said Galapagos Conservancy Director Jorge Carrión.

Invasive species

As rising ocean temperatures threaten sea life, on land there is a different problem. Animals - cats, dogs, pigs, goats and cattle, none of them native - are threatening the unique species of the islands.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, many people left dogs and cats they had been taking care of, Cabezas said.

"If you don't take care of them, they become a problem and now it's a shame to see dogs everywhere. We have a big problem right now I don't know what we're going to do," she said.

The non-native animals are a special threat to the giant tortoises of the Galapagos. The tortoises almost disappeared in the 1800s because of hunting. Officials have tried to protect them from humans. It has been illegal to kill a giant tortoise since 1933.

"In one night, a feral pig can destroy all nesting sites in an area," Carrión said. Park rangers¹¹ try to visit areas with nesting sites once a day and kill pigs when they find them. But the pigs are difficult to find, Carrion¹² said.

Feral cats feed on young marine iguanas, and both pigs and cats compete for food with the tortoises.

Plastic is also a widespread problem in the world's oceans. One recent study reported microplastics in the bellies¹³ of Galapagos penguins.

"There are no animals in the Galapagos that do not have microplastics in their food," Carrión said.

Words in This Story

species - n. a class of creatures having common attributes and designated by a common name

source -n. the place from which something, such as food, comes

unique - adj. being the only one; being without a like or equal

reptile³ -n. an animal with scales that lays eggs and needs sunlight to increase its body temperature to become active

nest -v. to make a place where eggs can be laid or where young can be raised

diverse -adj. containing many different kinds of things, such as plants and animals

shame - n. something to be regretted

feral - adj. having escaped from domestication and become wild

1 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 iguanas   

n. 美洲蜥蜴 名词iguana的复数形式

参考例句：

• Galapagos land iguanas belong to the genus Conolophus, of which there are currently three recognised species. 加拉帕戈斯陆栖鬣蜥属于鬣蜥属，其中目前得到确认的有三个物种。
• Feral cats in the region could be eating eggs and young iguanas, Gentile speculates. 这一区域的野猫可能正在吃鬣蜥蛋及其幼崽，金泰尔猜测。

3 reptile   

n.爬行动物；两栖动物

参考例句：

• The frog is not a true reptile.青蛙并非真正的爬行动物。
• So you should not be surprised to see someone keep a reptile as a pet.所以，你不必惊奇有人养了一只爬行动物作为宠物。

4 reptiles   

n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Snakes and crocodiles are both reptiles. 蛇和鳄鱼都是爬行动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Birds, reptiles and insects come from eggs. 鸟类、爬虫及昆虫是卵生的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 algae   

n.水藻，海藻

参考例句：

• Most algae live in water.多数藻类生长在水中。
• Algae grow and spread quickly in the lake.湖中水藻滋蔓。

6 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 naturalist   

n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者)

参考例句：

• He was a printer by trade and naturalist by avocation.他从事印刷业，同时是个博物学爱好者。
• The naturalist told us many stories about birds.博物学家给我们讲述了许多有关鸟儿的故事。

8 penguins   

n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why can penguins live in cold environment? 为什么企鹅能生活在寒冷的环境中？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Whales, seals, penguins, and turtles have flippers. 鲸、海豹，企鹅和海龟均有鳍形肢。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 rangers   

护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员

参考例句：

• Do you know where the Rangers Stadium is? 你知道Rangers体育场在哪吗？ 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Now I'm a Rangers' fan, so I like to be near the stadium. 现在我是Rangers的爱好者，所以我想离体育场近一点。 来自超越目标英语 第3册

12 carrion   

n.腐肉

参考例句：

• A crow of bloodthirsty ants is attracted by the carrion.一群嗜血的蚂蚁被腐肉所吸引。
• Vultures usually feed on carrion or roadkill.兀鹫通常以腐肉和公路上的死伤动物为食。

13 bellies   

n.肚子( belly的名词复数 )；腹部；（物体的）圆形或凸起部份；腹部…形的

参考例句：

• They crawled along on their bellies. 他们匍匐前进。
• starving children with huge distended bellies 鼓着浮肿肚子的挨饿儿童