Galapagos - Science-to-Action

FINAL REPORT FROM THE CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION
TO THE CI‐MMAS PROGRAM (MAY 2008 ‐ DEC. 2009)
Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands (aisbl)
Avenida Charles Darwin – Puerto Ayora – Isla Santa Cruz
Galápagos – Ecuador
Tel: (593) 5 2‐526‐146/147
Fax: (593) 5 2526‐102
Hhttp://www.darwinfoundation.orgH
Submitted 31 st January 2010
Grants Manager: Freda Chapman Hfreda.chapman@fcdarwin.org.ecH Ext. 139
Project Contact: Stuart Banks stuart.banks@fcdarwin.org.ec Ext 264
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank the many contributors to Galapagos marine science (particularly Dr Graham Edgar and Dr
Jon Witman) and CI‐MMAS (Dr Les Kaufman, Scott Henderson, John Tschirky, Leah Bunce Karrer) for
their technical oversight, outreach initiatives, financial support, and personal investment in the often
seemingly tenuous sustainable future of the Galapagos Islands. It is very encouraging to see how
large scale global initiatives such as MMAS can draw out not just diverse lessons for better ocean
management but can also support important on‐site conservation at regional scales. Including
Galapagos in the wider analysis is greatly appreciated. Considering extinction risk of not just species,
but also the associated risk to economy and emerging island culture bodes well for realistic solutions,
better informed stakeholders and decision makers locally, and wider global advocacy for protection
of the world’s last unique marine refuge areas.
THE CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION
The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), which in 2009 celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding,
is an international non‐profit organization with its operational base in the Galapagos Islands, 1,000
kilometers from the coast of Ecuador. CDF's mission is "to provide knowledge and assistance through
scientific research and complementary action to ensure the conservation of the environment and
biodiversity in the Galapagos Archipelago". Galapagos faces numerous challenges: increasing levels
of tourism; the continuous threat of introduced species which endanger its unique biodiversity;
climatic change; and a growing human population which requires food, services, and other amenities.
The CDF, through its unique agreement with the Government of Ecuador to provide technical advice
to Galapagos stakeholders and especially to the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS), is at the
forefront of science for the protection and conservation of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems,
and its staff (the majority of whom are Galapagos natives) together with many international,
Ecuadorian and Galapagos volunteers, work tirelessly to bring the highest standard of research and
technical assistance to Galapagos decision makers. Research specialties such as restoration,
ecosystem and species monitoring, and social sciences are supported by the largest collections
worldwide of Galapagos baseline data and library resources and teams of environmental education
specialists, community outreach, and technical advisors. The CDF also maintains close links to an
international network of scientists, technical experts, and "Friends of Galapagos", and disseminates
information widely to ensure that one of the last remaining natural treasures of the world remains in
the public consciousness at home and abroad. By maintaining excellent standards of research and
technical assistance that are directly relevant to the changing needs of Galapagos, and by continuing
to strive for ecological, environmental, and economic stability in the Galapagos Islands and Galapagos
Marine Reserve (GMR). CDF plays a key role in creating a sustainable Galapagos.
Cover page photo: Angel Chiriboga, locally trained Ecuadorian marine researcher conducts underwater
coral transects across a recently discovered Porites reef in Darwin Island (photo credit GJ Edgar)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 4
I. An Overview of MMAS‐Galapagos Project Goals ........................................................... 6
II. Status of research ........................................................................................................... 7
III. Data Application. .......................................................................................................... 10
IV.
Science to Action: Insights from Galapagos regarding MMA effectiveness under
different policy and strategies. ..................................................................................... 10
1. Ecological Monitoring and Management Effectiveness .................................................... 11
2. Habitat Connectivity (including Cross Shelf and InterReefal Studies) .............................. 12
3. Population Connectivity .................................................................................................... 12
4. Resilience ........................................................................................................................... 13
5. Resistance to Extinction .................................................................................................... 14
6. Technological Advances to Early Threat Detection .......................................................... 16
7. Coral / Rocky Reef Health Diagnostics .............................................................................. 16
8. Conservation and Economic Development ....................................................................... 17
V. Capacity Building and Outreach ................................................................................... 18
VI. References and Related Project Publications. .............................................................. 20
ANNEX ONE: Standardized Survey Procedures for Monitoring Reef Ecosystems in the
Eastern Tropical Pacific ................................................................................................. 21
ANNEX TWO: Ecological Subtidal Monitoring Field Blogs ...................................................... 34
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MARINE MANAGEMENT AREA SCIENCE
INSIGHTS FROM GALAPAGOS
FINAL REPORT FROM THE CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
January 28, 2010
GOALS:
1. Development of a long term Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) coastal/ocean monitoring program
designed for the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) and local partners, linked to global and
regional needs and initiatives.
2. Innovative Marine Management Area Science in the context of globally unique marine environment
at risk under considerable climatic variability, a relatively data rich multi-user ecosystem, and the
largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) refuge in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) region from
industrial fishers.
3. Advocate positive change through transparent flow of information to users and dissemination of
appropriate recommendations that encourage informed stakeholder decisions.
RESULTS:
Through analysis of Galapagos and wider ETP regional data coupled with climate risk assessment,
scientists inferred the following:
• There is a direct positive correlation between biomass of predatory fish and degree of
enforcement in MPAs.
• Fishing impacts on predatory fish and concomitant density of macro algae habitats show an
inverse relationship to distance from port zones.
• Certain species that consistently associate with fished or non-fished “sanctuary” zones or are
conspicuously absent have potential as indicators for MMA effectiveness.
• Past El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) observations suggest there is a high risk of
extinction among species unless the exacerbating human footprint is reduced.
• During periods of climate stress, a range of connected, distinct yet shifting oceanographic
regimes provides an opportunity for niche habitats to expand and contract.
• Increasing the area of protected coastal zones in sensitive areas by as little as 2% would
afford significant protection to certain threatened species and marine habitats.
• Protection aids stock recovery, evidenced by higher density of predatory reef fish of
reproductive size in protected areas.
• Fragmented Galapagos corals are likely to be severely impacted by increased acidification
stress and should be considered a particularly sensitive Galapagos habitat.
• Restoring top-down controls of habitat engineers and bioeroders such as urchins will more
than likely improve reef resilience in the face of strong climate impacts.
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• Corals that survived the El Niño event in 1982/3 seem to have been resistant to the stress of
the following strong event in 1997/8 and are now undergoing signs of recovery near those few
remaining reefs. There appears to have been a strong selection for heat resilient species/
zooxanthellae combinations in recent history.
• Nature based tourism selects for high priority conservation sites, but introduces bias in
estimations of diversity compared to sites with fewer visitations. Obviously more visitation
improves the chance that rare or uncommon species are observed.
• Until recently the significant loss of important habitat forming Galapagos species went
unheralded.
• The extremes of moderate-strong ENSO events and subsequent recovery intervals generate a
constant flux in the composition of benthic environments between rapid colonizers and
established slow growing benthos such as hermatypic corals.
• Galapagos is a globally unique field laboratory for assessing species and community level
responses and effects of management measures under extreme oceanographic events such
as ENSO and global warming.
• Galapagos still requires an information management system based on ecosystem monitoring
which ensures continuity of shared information.
• The rate of change as well as the magnitude of climatic events affects coral health. Cold
water shock can be as much a stress as increased temperatures.
• Relative abundances of bioeroders (e.g. sea urchins) and grazers indicate regime shifts in
habitat forming reef. This may be useful in assessing regressions to lower biodiversity states.
• Galapagos corals are likely to be among the first affected by ocean acidification. The natural
marine environment in Galapagos has particularly high CO 2 levels, which impacts stabilizing
reef cementation reducing resistance to erosion and potentially affecting growth rates.
• Coastal fisheries can have particularly high impact on climate sensitive species, suggesting
that a fisheries policy shift toward species that may benefit from climate shifts would improve
reduce extinction risk before climate impacts.
• Well managed tourism zones promote protection of high diversity sites by assigning an
economic value greater and distinct from profits derived from extraction activities with higher
ecological impact.
• New alternatives for traditional Galapagos sectors such as pesca vivencial (tourists
accompanying fishers) or proposals for pseudo-long-lining in deep water need to be carefully
scrutinized and clarified to ensure that appropriate monitoring and governance can take place.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS:
The inclusion of Galapagos in the wider MMAS project promotes marine research in the archipelago,
both for the benefit of Galapagos and for marine science and climate studies generally. A number of
interesting results point to the importance of further studies to develop this contribution further during
2010-2012. Since the area already has considerable interdisciplinary data and contains so many
diverse inter-related habitats a relatively low investment in research in Galapagos marine
environments within a larger interconnected MMA regional and global context, can reap dividends in
terms of knowledge and advocacy needed to ensure optimum conservation of marine ecosystems in
the face of global climate change.
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I. AN OVERVIEW OF MMAS‐GALAPAGOS PROJECT GOALS
The Galapagos Marine Management Area Science (MMAS) grant from May 2008 – April 2010
supported the fieldwork component of a long term Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) monitoring
program examining variability of subtidal community composition under differing management and
oceanographic regimes. It also encouraged publication of data and development of Science to Action
(S2A) messages from a body of comparative research between Galapagos and other connected sites
in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). Towards the end of the project (and presumably into its future
incarnation) it facilitated standardization of data and research questions across themes central to
improved MPA management globally – i.e. are MPAs effective in meeting stakeholder criteria for
ecosystem services, how do MMAs respond to climate perturbations under a suite of human
stressors? In a world where acidification stress, shifts in ocean‐atmosphere systems and background
heating seems inevitable, how can we encourage ecosystem resilience to disturbance and reduce
extinction risk etc.? It sets the scene for a common MMA research agenda.
By increasing the value of otherwise unconnected regional studies as part of broader MMAS cross
node comparisons between other global Marine Managed Areas (MMAs) we hope to distill from the
data key conservation messages targeted to S2A advocacy and solutions for managers that can be
realistically implemented. Those insights gained during the two year project are summarized here
from recent workgroup publications.
The Galapagos node component was originally a subset of the wider MMAS/ CI‐ETPS MPA network.
Specifically the deliverables included:
(1) Standardization of ETP reef survey protocols where appropriate with consideration of the
fundamental similarities and differences between subtidal reef communities in Galapagos and
across the other ETP regions (Coiba, Panama; Malpelo & Gorgona, Colombia; Isla Coco, Costa
Rica; Machalilla, mainland Ecuador).
(2) Close cooperation between marine scientists working between different regions towards
common methodologies and MMAS research goals with CDF monitoring support extended to
emerging MPAs in the ETP.
(3) Generation of a comparable two year dataset across the ETP region for Galapagos between
different fisheries extraction and sanctuary zones (protected and tourism) that with a wider
analysis of historical pre/post 1982‐83 ENSO observations led to a series of peer review
articles and key S2A messages.
MMAS objectives mirror the concept of CDF marine research which is strongly orientated towards
recommendations for applied improved GMR management practice based upon robust science
support. CDF marine research continues to work within those expectations, obligations and
management goals as part of a 10 year stakeholder process dating back to before the declaration of
the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Those goals include:
(1) Development of a long term GMR coastal / ocean monitoring program designed for GNPS and
local partners, linked to global and regional needs and initiatives.
(2) Innovative Marine Management Area Science in the context of (a) a globally unique marine
environment at risk under considerable climatic variability, (b) a relatively data rich multi‐user
ecosystem and (c) the largest MPA refuge in the ETPS region from industrial fishers.
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(3) Advocate positive change through (a) transparent flow of information to users and (b)
dissemination of appropriate recommendations that encourage informed stakeholder
decisions.
II. STATUS OF RESEARCH
STANDARDIZATION OF MARINE MONITORING ACROSS THE ETP REGION.
The Galapagos subtidal survey data (2007‐2008) collected under the project formed part of a
wider regional ETP MMA study (Edgar et al. 2009). It also currently is part of a global database
being applied if and where relevant to the wider cross‐node MMAS analysis between Belize, Fiji,
and Brazil.
Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) subtidal survey methods formed the basis of a two year
process with lead PIs from the Coiba, Malpelo, Machallila, Coco and Gorgona regions to generate
a first integrated and comparative study of MMA effects across the ETP. A common survey
protocol was agreed upon which paved the way for future comparisons (see Annex 1).
The subtidal monitoring methodology for Galapagos was originally developed in 2000 on the
cusp of the formation of the GMR as we know it today ‐ in part to provide biodiversity estimates
to endorse its UNESCO world heritage status but perhaps more importantly to data‐mine the link
between a comprehensive measure of ecosystem state and management. It confronts
considerable small scale variability under larger ENSO climate signals, and considers
biogeography patterning for representative protection of sensitive areas. It was created to
standardize benchmarks for before‐after comparisons given the implementation of new
management tools such as coastal take and no‐take zonation within what was at that time a new
(and ambitious) participatory and adaptive management paradigm.
Methods originally proposed by Bustamante and Edgar (Linea Base de Biodiversidad; Danulat &
Edgar Eds. 2001) built upon earlier surveys from 1994‐1999 comprising early taxonomic
inventories for subtidal fish, sessile macroinvertebrate and algae and mobile macroinverterbrate
groups. In subsequent years improved field protocols, taxonomic resolution (particularly for
sessile species), regulated data entry with better quality control as well as consistency between
research divers has generated a fairly unique 10 year dataset for MPA evaluation. A detailed
description of the monitoring and site selection through the 2004 JMP process is given in CDF
technical report Banks et al. (2006).
Distinctions between Galapagos monitoring over this period and the common shared monitoring
approach in other regions were mostly in the form of complementary data collections:
1. Pilot monitoring groups at the community level:
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a. A 30 minute census of pelagic species in near shore blue water analogous to that
applied in Malpelo, Colombia (GPS tracking added to standardize drift)
complemented in part the ongoing CDF shark census work with other ETP
partners.
b. Mesogastropods were added to the other three principle monitoring groups
(collected in 10 x 0.25m 2 sessile quadrats at each 15m/6m depth strata) to
explore possible indirect trophic effects.
c. Deep (40‐100m) Remotely Operated Vehicle deployments opportunistically
surveyed below safe diving limits. Once widespread species thought locally
extinct since 1984 such as the octocoral sea pens Vigularia galapagensis,
Cavernulina c.f. darwini, and Ptilosarcus undulatus were rediscovered with deep
water distributions in the central archipelago. Surveys of deep anoxic benthos
and bacterial mats in the Darwin Bay crater, Isla Genovesa also suggests
circulation problems in this intensively used tourism anchorage.
2. Developing comparative methods:
a. A comparative review of sessile monitoring methods between the point
intersection quadrat technique traditionally used over heterogeneous Galapagos
rocky reef and those larger area quadrats employed by researchers working over
contiguous coral benthos in Isla Coco, Malpelo and Coiba.
The appraisal suggests that these methods be complementary and not necessarily
exclusive. It was important to differentiate separate goals between the two
methodologies. Point intersection methods considered (1) rapid assessment of
sessile benthos (at relatively high taxonomic resolution over small yet dispersed
areas with replication i.e. – 1620 sampled points over 20 replicate quadrats and 2
depth strata but not an area measure) as distinct from (2) a reduced number of
long term fixed area plots in areas with high coral coverage (sampling with x 12
greater spatial coverage, typically 600 sample units, lower taxonomic resolution
and ~x 3‐6 immersion time to complete).
The diverse benthic assemblages across Galapagos rocky reef and the
considerable logistic challenges for representative monitoring over 3‐5
biogeographic regions and ~1750 Km coastline favors point intersection quadrat
methods for rocky reef systems by well trained science divers in the Galapagos
region. However recognizing the value of improved coverage in contiguous coral
reef for comparisons with Isla Coco, Malpelo, Gorgona and Coiba we began to
also implement replicated fixed 1 x 10m 2 quadrant blocks in a subset of northerly
coral sites with >50% coral cover following their established methodology.
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. Photoquadrat methods were applied in certain long term monitoring sites.
Galapagos has considerable taxonomic experience with sessile epifauna and algae
which has helped in post processing of imagery for a long term objective data
bank. The value of such photoquadrats lies in an objective long term record and
for comparisons between other regions or instances where taxonomic expertise
during the dive is unavailable. This was particularly useful for example in
quantifying broad scale habitat shifts from photography taken coincidentally
before and after the strong 1982/3 ENSO event (Edgar et al. 2009).
3. Sampling for environmental correlates:
a. Oceanographic data was collected at all localities through CTD‐Fl profiling and
335um/20um zooplankton and phytoplankton net tows. This complements a
larger 3 year seasonal dataset collected during the Galapagos NASA‐Ocean
project (2004‐2007) comprising >60 coastal and open water fixed sampling points
during 11 day archipelago wide ocean expeditions. In practice these “snapshots”
capture the regime during the sampling day, and are placed in the context of time
series oceanographic data from in‐situ subtidal temperature loggers and satellite
derived measures (SeaWiFS, MODIS‐AQUA, AVHRR).
b. Two long term subtidal temperature logger stations at 10m and 20m depth were
renovated for continuous data collection in the far north (Wolf) and Western
upwelling zone (Fernandina) with 3 CTDs (Conductivity Temperature Depth
sensors) being prepared for long term deployments with Galapagos National Park
Service (GNPS) and Instituto Nacional Oceaonografico de la Armada (INOCAR)
partners into 2010.
4. Collaborative sampling:
a. Dr Jon Witman, Brown University continues his decadal study of trophic
interactions across subtidal vertical walls in upwelling and non‐upwelling sites –
we are contributing within the CDF dataset to a PhD study of functional group
resilience and complexity in the first half of 2010.
b. As counterpart to the MMAS project we also ran a three year Darwin Initiative
coral mapping exercise linked with IUCN red listing work for those groups with a
range of invited regional and taxonomic experts. This greatly strengthened the
formation of the ETP technical marine group.
c. CDRS divers transferred subtidal methods for rocky reef evaluation participating
directly in surveys in Los Roques (Venezuela), Isla Coco (Costa Rica), Machalilla
(Ecuador) and with CDF trained divers in Coiba (Panama).
5. Inclusion of additional survey sites:
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a. In addition to the 65 core sampling sites, surveys included a base line for an
Environmental Impact Assessment of the Bartolome anchorage (Isla Santiago)
prior to GNPS/INOCAR installation of low impact moorings with a follow up
survey in 2009. This included collections of soft sediment in‐fauna, a marine trash
survey, video transects and subtidal reef taxa. This was part of a multi‐institution
no anchor initiative to reduce physical damage to fragile benthos.
b. Distinct dominant macroalgae communities in western Fernandina Island were
surveyed (4 sites) with emphasis upon algae collections for improved
identification, including a directed search for endemic deep kelp (IUCN VU)
Eisenia galapagensis. A survey was also attempted on the western shore of
Fernandina to examine recruitment upon newly formed subtidal lava after a
recent volcanic eruption reached the shore.
c. We discovered regions to the west of Isla Darwin with considerable continuous
coral cover harboring some of the largest colonies remaining to date (radial
diameter ~ 7m for Porites lobata), and began to follow the largest recovering reef
framework originally monitored by Glynn in the 1970’s. Two new coral reference
sites in the central archipelago were also surveyed in Española and Floreana using
the point transect methods applied in the far northerly reefs.
d. We also undertook surveys of two longer time series sites in Floreana Island
(originally Pew fellowship project sites from 2000‐2003 sampled every 3 months).
III. DATA APPLICATION.
The two year CDF subtidal monitoring dataset was applied in (1) an ETP level analysis with regional
co‐authors (Edgar et al. MMA effectiveness, submitted; Cortez et al. ETP biogeography, in
development; Wolff et al. ETP trophic modeling, in development), (2) Galapagos specific publications
(Edgar et al. 2008 generates Galapagos Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) Criteria, and Edgar et al. 2009
examines extinction risk via climate – fisheries interactions) and (3) recently submitted as part of the
MMAS global cross node analysis (in development) and included in a global analysis of reef fish
resilience as a mediation function of biodiversity and functional redundancy before human
disturbance (Mora et al. in review 2010).
IV. SCIENCE TO ACTION: INSIGHTS FROM GALAPAGOS REGARDING MMA
EFFECTIVENESS UNDER DIFFERENT POLICY AND STRATEGIES.
The Science to Action messages are based around published work or analysis submitted to peer
review journals, from field observations and ongoing CDF work under GMR research and the wider
CDF climate change initiative. Where the ETP dataset is mentioned we refer to the combined analysis
of data from Galapagos, Machalilla, Coiba, Isla Coco, Malpelo and Gorgona from 2007‐2008:
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1. ECOLOGICAL MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS
More predatory fish in well enforced MPAs vs. poorly enforced MPAs.
Comparisons between ETP MMAs Galapagos and Machalilla (Ecuador), Isla del Coco (Costa Rica),
Coiba (Panama), and Isla Malpelo and Isla Gorgona (Colombia) showed considerable ecological
differences associated with different levels of MPA enforcement and local fishing pressure. Well
protected MPAs harbored subtidal communities with around 5x greater biomass of carangid jacks,
sharks and groupers when compared to poorly enforced MPAs. Poorly enforced MPAs had
approximately x2 biomass of large carnivorous fish compared to openly fished areas (Edgar et al.
2008). Highly fished sites also showed significant densities of seastars and Eucidaris Sp. urchin grazers
and higher densities of the sabretooth blenny Plagiotremus azaleas and triple fin blenny Lepidonectes
corallicola. Conversely >20% of seastars in MPA sites showed evidence of fish predation suggesting
their use as indicators of indirect secondary fisheries impacts.
Poorly protected ETP MPAs showed an 80% decline in fish biomass similar to fished sites. In zones
where the capacity for management is limited (even if a legal framework is in place) greater
conservation return may result from a smaller subset of better protected sites until wider more
effective vigilance measures can be applied. In the absence of sound governance, net conservation
gain may be reached by compromise. Poorly enforced MPAs for example may also represent
concession zones for negotiation with fisheries stakeholders for experimental fisheries rotation etc.
or interchanged for protection of under‐represented high biodiversity or sensitive species areas.
Direct effects of fishing in the ETP did not seem to extend to herbivorous fish as observed on heavily
exploited Indo‐Pacific and Caribbean reefs.
Fishing impacts predatory fish reducing macro algae habitat
Distance from fishing ports shows an inverse correlation with ecological metrics of classic fishing
effects, with densities of predatory reef fish decreasing significantly and macroalgaes increasing away
from port zones. Although the emerging trends seem intuitive, next steps in analysis require a better
appraisal of the fishing dynamic to substantiate the assumption that distance from port and fishing
pressure are strongly correlated.
Certain species associate with fished and non‐fished areas
Across the ETP 2007‐2008 dataset a multivariate analysis of fishing impact and community
composition (based upon 24 indicator metrics of primary, secondary and higher order trophic effects
of fishing) positively associated fishing with the presence of globefish Diodon holocanthus, and the
seastar Phataria unifascialis and negatively associated the bicolor parrotfish Scarus rubroviolaceus,
the rainbow wrasse Thalassoma lucasanum and the urchin Diadema mexicanum.
Not surprisingly fish that were negatively correlated with fishing impact were the larger reef and
close pelagic predators such as the Jack Caranx melampygus, grouper Dermatolepsis dermatolepsis
and snapper Lutjanus novemfasciatus, and those positively associated with fishing those cryptic
species with smaller body sizes such as P.azaleas, L. corallicola and bravo clinid Labrisomus
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dentriticus. Diadema and Tripnuestes urchins were negatively correlated to fished areas whilst
Eucidaris was ubiquitous in fished zones.
Past ENSO observations suggest extinction risk is high unless “exacerbating” human
footprint is reduced.
Based upon historical and current observations that imply probable post‐El Niño extinctions (Edgar et
al. 2009) the prospect of future biodiversity loss of threatened marine species seems likely unless
“climate conscious” adaptation measures are employed to reduce compounding risk presented by
human activity in the coastal zone. Since low impact scenarios based on past ENSO patterns have
already been implicated in significant marine habitat restructuring and extinction risk, ecosystem
diagnostics for benthic resilience should be employed to monitor and better respond to future
climate shifts, coupled with directed management measures designed to ameliorate the Galapagos
human footprint.
2. HABITAT CONNECTIVITY (INCLUDING CROSS SHELF AND INTERREEFAL STUDIES)
A range of connected distinct yet shifting oceanographic regimes provides opportunity for
spatial expansion and contraction of suitable niche habitat during periods of climate
stress across the GMR.
The biodiversity patterning (CDF Base line 2002, Edgar et al 2004) across Galapagos temperate,
upwelling and panamic/indo‐pacific species affinities under ENSO and seasonal shifts lends itself to
connected shifting refuge areas and "fringe" settlement zones (if climate shifts gradually and not
abruptly). An example includes evidence of thousand year fossil records of uplifted massive corals in
a shallow heated (Urvina) bay surrounded by otherwise inhospitable cold upwelled water on the
western coast of Isabela.
During the ETP regional analysis the magnitude of variation in subtidal marine communities across
the Galapagos region (~3°) was found to be of the same order as that across the entire 10° latitudinal
span of continental sites from Coiba (Panama) to Machalilla (Ecuador). Wolf Island in particular shows
high sessile biotic similarity to sites in Coiba and Gorgona (Colombia) whilst Wolf, Darwin, Isla Coco
(Costa Rica) and Malpelo (Colombia) show high affinity in fish assemblages from Panamic and Indo‐
Pacific provinces.
3. POPULATION CONNECTIVITY
Priority updates to Galapagos coastal zoning of >2% will improve representative
protection of threatened species and habitat.
Current Galapagos MPAs ameliorate, but do not prevent ecosystem impacts during strong ENSO
disturbances and can be improved. There is aperture for improved protected coverage of particularly
sensitive areas particularly in the upwelling west and far northerly islands. Current protected area
zoning covers 16% of the reserve (including 10% non‐extractive tourism areas) and ideally should be
increased to ~25%. Particularly sensitive areas which deserve improved levels of protection include
Wolf and Darwin, Caleta Iguana, Punta Essex and Wreck Bay. Nursery zones should be considered
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within existing fisheries areas to complement spill over from the smaller MPAs, as well as ordination
of new low impact extraction modalities such as pesca vivencial (tourists accompanying fishers).
Effective MPAs that encourage spill over are shown to be at least several Km in length across the
literature. A cumulative extension of 26 Km has been suggested by Edgar et al. (2008) across all MPAs
to improve their relative effectiveness incorporating aforementioned unprotected sites harboring
unique threatened endemics and including protected subzones within multiple use port areas in the
three main populated islands of San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabela under regular human influence.
Reproductive sized predatory reef fish are more abundant in protected sanctuary zones.
Galapagos predatory fish population size structure suggests that the current zoning has the potential
to protect reproductive stock for those fished species – certainly coastal fin fish such as the insular
endemic bacalao M.olfax which have large aggregations in the western upwelling zone of Canal
Simon Bolivar. Further analysis is needed to determine whether MPAs are extensive enough to
encourage stock recovery of other exploited species given current management measures –
particularly for benthic feeders such as lobsters and sea cucumber with depressed populations that
are likely linked to recruitment pulses within ENSO cycles.
High global extinction risk for corals suggest that viable source populations encouraging
exogenous recruitment be protected at the regional level between ETP MMAs.
Under global warming scenarios with stronger ENSOs, although connectivity between coastal coral
communities to Galapagos may increase with increased flow from Panamic and Indo‐Pacific provinces
it seems likely that many species would not survive the combination of background acidification
stress and increased temperature maxima. Regional scale degradation of colonies in other MPAs in
the ETP region through accumulated anchor damage or indirect fishing/ bio‐erosion effects would
also reduce recruitment from potential source regions (eg. “continental Ecuador Galapagos” or
“Coiba/Isla Coco Galapagos”) during ENSO recovery intervals.
4. RESILIENCE
Restoring a top‐down control of habitat engineers such as herbivorous urchins improves
reef resilience before strong climate impacts.
Despite the regularity of EN the Galapagos ecosystem is not well adapted to resist ecological impacts
particularly where climate stress is compounded by recent human interactions.
Overfishing reduces ecosystem resilience. Strong ENSOs have occurred periodically for thousands of
years, and presumably the various native and endemic species suspected to be extinct since 1983 had
survived those previous events. The greatest single perturbation to the marine environment after
ENSO in the coastal zone over the past 40 years is represented by the largely unchecked growth in
coastal fisheries for sea cucumber, 3 species of rock lobster, illegal shark fisheries and coastal fin fish
such as bacalao Mycteroperca olfax, assorted Serranids, Lutjanids, and Carangnids. This hypothesis is
also supported by trophic modeling results (Bustamante et al. 2008, Ruiz in prep.). In particular
comparisons with the well protected MPA in Coco Island, Costa Rica, and the analogous oceanic
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pinnacles of fished Wolf and Darwin with reduced protection clearly show lower densities of Eucidaris
urchins, and increased lobster densities.
Given these observations it would seem advisable that Wolf and Darwin (harboring the last remaining
reef frameworks) be excluded from lobster fishing if coral health is to be maintained after a future
strong EN event. Top down control of bioeroders is likely key to preventing a semi‐permanent regime
shift where corals (already under considerable climate and acidification stress) are lost. The same
holds true for other parts of the reserve.
5. RESISTANCE TO EXTINCTION
El Niño, grazers and fisheries interact to greatly elevate extinction risk for Galapagos
Marine Species (Edgar et al. 2009).
Forty‐five Galapagos marine species fulfill IUCN red listing threatened criteria – 5 mammals, 6 birds, 6
fish, 1 echinoderm, 7 corals, 6 brown algae, 9 red algae. At least 2 species, the black spotted
damselfish Azurina euplama and 24 rayed seastar Heliaster solaris are probably extinct. Since no
marine fish has been registered by IUCN or otherwise as extinct this is particular noteworthy (Figure
1).
Highest densities of threatened marine species with restricted ranges are located in the western part
of the Isabela and Fernandina Islands. Using modified Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) vulnerability and
irreplacability criteria, an estimated 30% of threatened species fall within unprotected areas (where
>1% of the population permanently or seasonally resides) which could be improved with a 2%
minimum increase in protected coastal coverage. Seven IUCN red listed species extending into the
coastal fringe were useful in the KBA process due to their regular occurrence and discrete
distributions – Galapagos penguins (Sphendiscus mendiculus), the flightless cormorant (P.harrisi),
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus), the Galapagos sealion (Zalophus wollebaeki) and the Galapagos fur
seal (Arctocephalus galapagensis), Mangrove finch C. heliobates and the lava gull Lavus fuliginosus.
The presence of the first two marine birds also showed an indirect correlation with other cryptic
endemics suggesting their use as possible umbrella species in prioritizing any shifts or improvements
to protected zones.
Repetitive ENSO stress throughout recent history suggests selection for coral associations
that better withstand gradual warming.
Coral / zooxanthellate clade associations seem to have been whittled down to an EN resistant subset
that persisted since the strong 1982/83 event. Those remaining were less affected by the subsequent
1997/98 event (Glynn, 2009)). Since 2002 Glynn reports modest recovery around the few remaining
reef structures in the far northern islands.
14

Figure 1. Number of species on the Galapagos threatened marine species list recorded at islands in the three major
biogeographic zones before (dark bars) and after (light bars) the 1982/83 El Niño. Threatened marine vertebrates and corals
(Pocillopora elegans and P. inflatus) that are widely distributed across the archipelago have been excluded from totals.
Conservation and tourism zones with prohibition on fishing are shown as darkened areas of coast (from Edgar et al. 2009
GCB).
Nature based tourism selects for higher priority conservation sites but introduces bias in
estimations of diversity compared to sites with less visitation.
Threatened ahermatypic corals requiring additional levels of protection are often associated with the
tourism sites that were chosen for their exposed high current and headland character that attracts a
range of tourism target species, in particular pelagic animals. Where tourism zones appear to capture
areas of higher endemism, some biasing probably exists due to the higher levels of diver visitation
throughout recent years drawing attention to uncommon species in those areas.
Until recently the significant loss of important habitat forming Galapagos species went
unheralded.
The loss of Galapagos macroalgae (at least 33% of Galapagos algae 90/300 species have yet to be
recorded anywhere else) is significant and received little attention directly after the strong 1982/3 EN
– since then a relatively small temperate ecosystem under the equatorial sun, sustained by
constitutive upwelling has fostered endemic kelp Eisenia galapagensis, rediscovered in 2004 and
further documented in 2007 as a distinct GMR habitat new to marine science on the equator.
El Niño and La Niña die‐offs and slow vs. rapid benthic recruiters generate a constant flux
in the composition of the benthic productive environment.
Following moderate‐ strong El Niño events, cold productive La Niña switches foster rapid recovery of
some species such as subtidal barnacles, Ulva and Enteromorpha species competing with coral and
other established sessile macrofauna. Coralline encrusting algae likely play an important persistent
role in reef accretion during such events, yet have yet to be properly investigated.
15

6. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES TO EARLY THREAT DETECTION
Galapagos is a globally unique field laboratory for assessing the response of taxa and
effect of management measures under extreme oceanographic events commensurate in
some aspects to global warming scenarios over different time scales.
Although many ENSO impacts are reasonably well documented, important information gaps as to the
Galapagos ocean‐climate dynamic still exist. Particularly relevant is determination of threshold levels
for switches in the Galapagos climate system (i.e. at which point does a NOAA El Niño in the EN 3
zone become a Galapagos El Niño with cascading trophic deprivation effects etc., what degree of
thermocline depression prevents Equatorial Undercurrent upwelling into sunlit surface water and
over what scales etc.). Ongoing climate research looks to determine which interactions are the most
sensitive and applicable as indicators and what is the spatial variability at small scales relevant to
conservation management and protection of small threatened species populations.
The Galapagos Ocean Observing System: a need for a decision support system with
integrated information management.
Despite a lot of groundwork, Galapagos still requires an information management system
appropriately feeding back to management based around an ecosystem level and robust monitoring
framework with a “legacy” mechanism in place to ensure its continuity that also encourages best use
of competencies between local institutions.
7. CORAL / ROCKY REEF HEALTH DIAGNOSTICS
Rate of change as well as the magnitude of climatic events affects coral health.
Cold water shock (through internal wave propagation rapidly pushing segregated deep water over
the Galapagos platform and exposed oceanic pinnacles into the solar heated mixed surface layer) is
as much a stress to subtidal environments as gradual warming. Exaggerated temperature differentials
and rates of temperature change have caused extensive bleaching responses. A moderate EN event
in early 2007 followed by sharp cold upwelling transitions of 11 ° C over 10m depth subtidal reef over
6 days paved the way into a LN that compounded extensive cold water bleaching of Porites and
Pocillopora corals (Banks 2009, Glynn et al. 2009, Witman et al. 2003; submitted 2009) as the cold
season developed into late 2007. Both the interval between strong ENSO events and rate of change
from ENSO SST maxima to minima as well as generating a strong bleaching response, presumably also
indirectly impact the level of bioerosion of the reef following strong events and aperture for coral
framework recovery.
Both warm water stress and cold water shock affect Galapagos corals to degrees dependent upon
largely unqualified interactions with a range of covariates; physically driven shifts in associated
communities and trophic modalities, fisheries extraction of reef predators, transmission of diseases
and their agents etc.
Relative abundances of bioeroders and grazers indicate regime shifts in habitat forming
reef.
16

Reduced habitat complexity (reef to rubble) seems a direct consequence of bioerosion and
overgrazing making urchin barrens ubiquitous across the reserve since the last strong ENSO events of
1982/3 and 1997/8. The pencil urchin Eucidaris galapagensis for example doubled in numbers from
1982 to 1984 (pseudo‐photoquadrat data standardized from marine photos). Major ecosystem level
changes occurred during these periods as a result and populations do not appear to have recovered
(Edgar et al. 2009). In the intertidal zone large fucoid algaes such as Bifurcia galapagensis
disappeared presumably redefining available nursery habitat for many associated species. Patterns of
benthic cover from photographic surveys show remarkable correlation from 1984 and 2004, yet are
distinctly different from 1982 emphasizing that despite the absence of other data during the period,
changes in habitat forming species were very significant.
Nonetheless in intervening years there are some signs of recuperation in the 1‐5% of reef frameworks
that persisted. Glynn reports recovery of bleached tissue in certain northern reefs since 2000 and
new recruits from the same locality in the most extensive Darwin reef with a largely intact accreted
framework.
There is likely a threshold level of urchin abundance (principally Eucidaris) at which reestablishment
of coral and macroalgal habitat is limited resulting in a semi‐permanent regime shift. We have yet to
determine those thresholds as indicators of a regression to a lower diversity habitat state. An
averaged 3.2 individuals / m 2 abundance seems indicative of urchin barren development in the
central islands, while densities

include a careful appraisal of open water fishery options towards species that may benefit from a
climate shift such as tuna, wahoo etc. and/or a more appropriate redistribution of the vast equity
wrapped up in Galapagos nature based tourism.
Well managed tourism zones promote protection of high diversity sites.
Tourism areas concentrate around species rich areas with many endemics hence conservation and
nature based tourism tend to select for the same areas. They also have the advantage of assigning a
$$ value distinct from fisheries and lend a kind of passive vigilance preventing at least in popular sites
fisheries infractions. There is incentive to respect zone use as growing market awareness and
advocacy for “best tourism practices” become selling points for nature based tourism agencies and
ideals are appropriated by Galapagos naturalist guides. Although difficult to quantify presumably
illegal line fishing from tourism vessels has reduced in recent years. On site impact is considered to be
low (compared to the associated high impact development and invasive species risk indirectly
stimulated by tourism), although anchor damage and continuous small hydrocarbon spills and
pollution through constant visitation is potentially problematic.
Ambiguity in interpretation of new fisheries/ tourism alternatives.
There exists considerable ambiguity in interpretation/application of recent alternatives such as pesca
vivencial (a form of potentially low impact high return fisheries based tourism) which appears from
informal accounts to be heavily subsidized by external interests under local captain endorsement and
approaches a full sports fishing activity. These loop holes in the existing legal and management
framework need to be clarified. They are often seemingly intractable governance problems that we
must work around and with advocacy agencies if we cannot confront them directly.
V. CAPACITY BUILDING AND OUTREACH
1. We posted a blog linked to our monitoring work currently posted by NASA at:
http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/staff/gene/galapagos.html. A summary of materials
from each participant is included in Annex 2. As Science to Action activities continue into
2010 we plan to use some of these biopics and project descriptions as awareness/
Galapagos science for conservation materials for local school groups.
2. During the last research expeditions (July 2009) video footage was taken by BBC
Galapagos film maker towards two short 3‐6 min montage sequences of monitoring
activities (copies with CI Scott Henderson).
3. Galapagos participation for key conservation messages continues with the Integration
and Application Network (I.A.N) process coordinated by CI towards the global node
synthesis S2A outreach products. These are 1) MMAs: What and Why; 2) Science to
Action 101; 3) People and Oceans; and 4) Living with the Sea. We expect that some of
these products will be transferable locally in Galapagos in 2010.
18

4. Outreach was also approached through a combination of local talks and guide courses (22
hours over 11 weeks from Sept‐Oct 2009). With counterpart support we also produced 10
marine themed CDF talks in the Galapagos Science symposium of July 2009, and produced a
variety of poster materials for future outreach events, including a generic poster outlining
current CDF ecological research level research (Figure 2).
5. CDF scientists ran a series of science writing, trophic modeling, fisheries evaluation methods,
ecological monitoring, monitoring design, statistics, basic GIS, climate‐fisheries modeling,
biodiversity and collections and coastal vertebrate monitoring courses through 2008 and
2009. Although participation was intermittent (~30 days) Park officials were encouraged to
attend all events and we intend to continue with such courses into 2010.
Figure 2. Information materials prepared from an overview of recent GMR marine research.
19

VI. REFERENCES AND PROJECT RELATED PUBLICATIONS.
Banks SA, GJ Edgar, P Glynn, A Kuhn, J Moreno, D Ruiz, A Schuhbauer, JP Tiernan, N Tirado & M.
Vera. A Review of Ecological Aspects of the Galapagos Marine Realm in Relation to Climate Change.
(Planned submission to Galapagos Research 2010).
Banks, SA., M. Vera, and A. Chiriboga. 2009. Characterizing the northern Galapagos coral reefs:
establishing reference points to assess long‐term change in zooxanthellate coral communities. 66:43‐
64.
Banks S., Vera M., Toscano M., Ruiz D. y Tirado N. 2006. Monitoreo ecológico de la zona costera para
la evaluación de la zonificación provisional consensuada (ZPC). Resumen de actividades octubre 2004
– septiembre 2006. Informe de avances para USAID. Fundación Charles Darwin, Santa Cruz,
Galápagos, Ecuador. pp 1‐34.
Colgan, M. 1990. El Niño and the history of eastern Pacific reef building. Global ecological
consequences of the 1982‐1983 El Nino‐Southern Oscillation. Elsevier, Amsterdam:183‐232.
Edgar GJ, SA Banks, M Brandt, R Bustamante, A Chiriboga, SA Earle, LE Garske, PW Glynn, J Grove, SH
Henderson, CP Hickman, KA Miller, F Rivera and GM Wellington. 2009. El Niño, grazers and fisheries
interact to greatly elevate extinction risk for Galapagos marine species. Global Change Biology. doi:
10.1111/j.1365‐2486.2009.02117.x
Edgar GJ, SA Banks, S Bessudo, J Cortés, H Guzman, SJ Henderson, C Martinez, F Rivera, G Soler, D
Ruiz & F Zapata. 2010. Variation in reef fish and invertebrate assemblages with protection from
fishing across the Eastern Tropical Pacific seascape (Submitted for review 2010)
Edgar, GJ, SA Banks, R Bensted‐Smith, M. Calvopiña, A. Chiriboga, L. Garske, S. Henderson, K. Miller
and S. Salazar. 2008. Conservation of threatened species in the Galapagos Marine Reserve through
identification and protection of marine Key Biodiversity Areas. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and
Freshwater Ecosystems 18:955‐968.
Manzello, D. 2010. Ocean acidification hot spots: Spatiotemporal dynamics of the seawater CO2
system of eastern Pacific coral reefs. Limnol. Oceanogr 55:239‐248.
Witman, J., and F. Smith. 2003. Rapid community change at a tropical upwelling site in the Galapagos
Marine Reserve. Biodiversity and Conservation 12:25‐45.
20

ANNEX ONE: STANDARDIZED SURVEY PROCEDURES FOR MONITORING REEF
ECOSYSTEMS IN THE EASTERN TROPICAL PACIFIC
INTRODUCTION
We here describe methods for estimating densities of fishes, large macroinvertebrates, sessile
invertebrates, and seaweeds on reefs. This method has now been applied during surveys undertaken
in four countries of the Eastern Tropical Pacific region – Ecuador, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica
(Edgar et al. 2004a). Many hundreds of sites have now been surveyed using these methods, with
variants of the method involving different transect replication applied globally (e.g., Barrett & Buxton
2002, Edmunds & Hart 2003, Edgar et al. 2004b).
Visual census techniques provide the most effective way to monitor species at shallow‐water sites
because large amounts of data on a broad range of species can be collected within a short dive
period, with little post‐processing time required. In addition, monitoring programs associated with
marine protected areas (MPAs) should be non‐destructive. MPA surveys need to cover a range of
taxa because, in addition to heavily‐exploited species that are predicted to recover in no‐fishing
MPAs, significant flow on effects associated with increased predator numbers may occur that would
otherwise go undetected. For analysis of subtle long‐term trends, site‐to‐site variation should be
minimized by re‐surveying the same sites at different times, with surveys repeated whenever
possible in the same month in different years to minimise seasonal effects.
The reef survey technique described here was designed to maximise the amount of ecological
information related to all conspicuous taxa that can be obtained during a dive with a single tank of
air, based on a 2‐3 person dive team. Two depth strata at three sites can comfortably be surveyed
per day by a team of three divers, weather conditions permitting.
The basic unit monitored is a 50 m long transect line. The width of transect blocks varies with
different major taxonomic groupings surveyed (large fish, cryptic fish and macroinvertebrates, and
sessile invertebrates and seaweeds), with coincident information relating to all taxa obtained along
each line.
Because data, particularly for fishes, can vary with relatively slight changes to protocols (e.g. with
different transect band width or diver swimming speed), it is important that these methods are
consistently applied. Data generated are most usefully applied in a relative sense (ie, for comparing
one site with another or one time with another when data are collected using the same methods –
Lincoln Smith 1988, Lincoln‐Smith & 1989), but will likely be inaccurate (and many caveats will be
required with respect to biases) if used to try to estimate the size of the total fish community on reefs
(Kulbicki 1998, Edgar et al. 2004b).
21

Data collected by different divers on a field trip should be compared for consistency as soon as
possible, particularly during the early surveys. Thus, for example, if two divers are collecting fish
information then their data should be compared after dives. Ideally, all divers should survey the same
site and depth on the first sampling occasion, then data compared before other dive sites are visited.
Table of Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 21
How it works ......................................................................................................................................... 22
Methods ............................................................................................................................................... 23
Division of Labour ................................................................................................................................. 24
Choosing a site ...................................................................................................................................... 25
Laying of the transect ........................................................................................................................... 25
Data sheet protocols ............................................................................................................................ 26
Important things for people to know when learning fish surveys ....................................................... 26
References ............................................................................................................................................ 30
HOW IT WORKS
• At each site a diver records data by initially swimming along a defined depth contour with a
50 m transect line unravelling behind.
• The following scientific information is collected:
o Fishes are surveyed in two 5 m wide bands, up and back in parallel with the 50 m
transect line.
o Invertebrates and cryptic fish are surveyed in two 1 m wide bands on either side of
the transect line (1m x 50 m per transect).
o Quadrats are placed at 5 m spacing along the transect line (i.e. 10 per 50 m transect)
to quantify percentage cover of sessile invertebrates and macroalgae, and/or digital
photographs are taken in these positions.
• Transects are reeled in when the work has been completed.
• At least two (and up to four) depth contours are usually surveyed at each site (6 m and 15 m
when possible, but always with one transect >10 m and another

e 1: Stylised representation of survey technique.
Figu
METHODS
Prior to all surveys, dive teams require clear diver safety procedures, both to minimize the risk of
problems developing, and so that participants all know what actions are required if an accident does
occur. In almost all cases, reef monitoring in the Eastern Tropical Pacific is undertaken at considerable
distance from hyperbaric chambers, hence safety margins should be factored into all dive plans.
FISH SURVEYS
One diver firstly ties off the end of a 50 m transect line to the seabed then swims out, with the reel
unwinding behind, along the deeper (>10 m) depth contour at a site. The number and estimated sizecategory
of all fishes sighted within 2.5 m of the transect is recorded as the diver swims out the line.
The transect block thus encompasses a total reef area of 50 m x 5 m.
Th diver next censuses an adjacent replicate block by swimming back parallel to the initial transect at
a distance of 5‐8 m upslope from the initial transect line. This up and back procedure for two
adjacent blocks is repeated along the shallow (

MACROINVERTEBRATE AND CRYPTIC FISH SURVEYS
Large macro‐invertebrates (large molluscs, echinoderms and crustaceans) and cryptic fishes (ie.
inconspicuous fish species closely associated with the seabed that were likely to be overlooked
during general fish surveys) are censused along the same transect lines set for fish surveys. A diver
swims along the deeper side of the transect, counting all macroinvertebrates within 1 m of the line,
then returns along the shallow side of the line counting animals within the adjacent 50 m x 1 m block.
Data for the two blocks are recorded separately.At locations where large numbers of
macroinvertebrates (particularly sea urchins) are present, divers should write down data on the
underwater slate at least each 5 m along the transect line.
SESSILE BENTHOS SURVEYS
Information on the percentage cover of sessile animals and seaweeds along the transect lines set for
fish and invertebrate censuses are monitored by recording plant and sessile animal species within 0.5
x 0.5 m quadrats placed sequentially each 5 m along the 50 m transect. Digital photoquadrats are also
taken vertically‐downward each 5 m along transect lines from a height sufficient to encompass an
area of at least 0.5 m x 0.5 m. The scale of each photoquadrat is evident from centimeter markings
along the transect line, so it is not necessary to place a physical quadrat when photos are taken. The
percentage cover of different macroalgal, coral, sponge and other attached invertebrate species in
photoquadrats are digitally quantified in the laboratory using computer software.
CORAL ECOLOGY AND HEALTH INDICATORS
Some indicators of coral health can be tracked using digital photoquadrats; however, more detailed
information relating to coral growth, survival, recruitment and health is needed for areas with dense
coral growth.
Long term data on trends in coral metrics have been collected in the ETP by Hector Guzman and Jorge
Cortez (Panama and Costa Rica), Alberto Rodriguez (Colombia), Peter Glynn and Joshua Feingold
(Galapagos and Panama), and, more recently, by CDRS (Galapagos). Methods used by different
groups differ somewhat, hence a comparative studies of methods is needed to permit regional
analysis of coral metrics. An agreement on a core set of coral indicators to be monitored region‐wide,
with associated methods, remains an urgent priority.
DIVISION OF LABOUR
• Workload is divided between members of the dive team in a way that optimises efficiency
and maximises the number of transects completed.
• Division of tasks thus depends on the size of the team, who is skilled in what tasks, depth and
survey location (some locations take longer for fishes compared to macroinvertebrates and
vice versa).
• In order of decreasing skill level required, the tasks are (i) survey sessile biota using quadrats,
(ii) survey fishes, (iii) survey mobile macroinvertebrates, and (iv) take photoquadrats and reel
in line.
• With a three person dive team, diver 1 generally reels out the transect line, surveys fishes up
and back and then returns along the transect taking photoquadrats, diver 2 surveys
macroinvertebrates up and back, while diver 3 surveys sessile biota up the line then reels in
24

the transect. If the fish person is relatively inexperienced, then the transect line can be laid
out by someone else (e.g. the macroinvertebrates diver) so that the fish person can
concentrate fully on censusing fishes.
• With a two person dive team, diver 1 generally reels out the transect line, surveys fishes up
and back, then returns along the transect taking photoquadrats, and finally reels in the line,
while diver 2 surveys macroinvertebrates up and back. The sessile biota is often not surveyed
in situ in these circumstances, with analysis reliant on later digitisation of photoquadrats.
• When safety considerations warrant buddy divers remaining in close proximity, the diver pair
should swim in parallel, swimming outwards surveying fishes in parallel bands with the
deeper diver laying out the transect line, then returning either side of the transect line
counting mobile macroinvertebrates and cryptic fishes, then up and back undertaking
photoquadrats, and finally reeling in the line.
• Two transect depths can usually be accomplished in a single dive using the above methods,
providing the first dive is

ends up parallel to itself make sure there is a least a 6 m gap. In some cases the reef edge will
become progressively shallower, in which case it is best to stay inside the reef rather than
extend the transect over sand. If a change in depth occurs, then the actual depth range of the
transect should be recorded on data sheets (e.g. 3.8‐5.0 m rather than 5 m).
DATA SHEET PROTOCOLS
• Write words on data sheets as clearly as possible with printed letters.
• Record the following header information: date, depth of transect, diver name, site name,
time and underwater visibility (measure this out along the set transect line)
• Record what transect you are working on and make a clear distinction (draw a line) between
data belonging to different transects
• Record frequency information as either a written number or by using tally lines in blocks of 5.
Always distinguish between groups of numbers with commas, parentheses or underline (eg
avoid 32 being interpreted as a 3+2) and take particular care with written 11 (eleven) as this
looks identical to two 1 strokes. To avoid problems, eleven and other multiple digit numbers
should be underlined on data sheets if there is any possibility of confusion.
• Try and use recognised names for animals (preferably scientific but common names are fine).
It is ok to make up your own naming conventions for species but make sure you are
consistent and that you provide a key.
• Data should be recorded digitally as soon as possible after the dive to improve accuracy and
loss of important information (ie. before memory becomes fuzzy).
• The roles of all participants in the team should be clearly defined, including a clear
understanding of who is responsible for preparing and transporting equipment, and who is
responsible for collating and checking data associated with each of the different survey
methods.
SURVEY EQUIPMENT
• 50 m transect lines.
• Quadrats – stainless steel 0.25 m 2 (7x7grid)
• Catchbags – to fit slates, specimens etc.
• Camera for photoquadrats
• Slates, pencils and waterproof paper
• 1 m pole for judging invertebrate band (optional)
• For a more comprehensive checklist of field equipment see final table. This includes GPS to
record site position.
IMPORTANT THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHEN LEARNING FISH SURVEYS
Target group All fish and other large swimming animals (eg squid, octopus, seals, turtles, whales etc)
Technique
• Establish the size of a 5 m band centred on the transect line. Divers swim along the middle of
this band, but can move to the right or left to search caves, etc. [As a reference, the distance
of 2.5 m is approximately the length of a tall diver with arm outstretched in front from fin tip
to finger tip. ]
26

• Swim slowly approximately 1 m off of the bottom looking side to side and up and down. If
underwater visibility is low, then the maximum visibility can be used as a subsampling unit.
Thus, if the visibility is, for example, 5 m then the diver should write down information on
data sheets every 5 m, before progressing along the next 5 m, etc.
• Record the size and frequency of fish species seen.
• If identification is not possible, then draw a picture, take a photograph and/or write a
descriptive note (the more information the better). Be sure to ask others/check books at the
end of the dive.
• Where fish are schooling estimate abundance by counting a block and then multiplying by
size of school.
• Record estimated size of fish using the following size classes:
cm 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 20 25 30 35 40 50
Inches 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 14 16 20
• The length of fish larger than 50 cm should be estimated to the nearest 12.5 cm and
individually recorded.
• When it is impossible to record counts for all fishes seen, the highest priority is to record
names of all fish species seen on each transect, then abundance of large species, then
abundance of small species, then size classes of each species.
• Galapagos variant – Fish surveys in Galapagos have traditionally been undertaken by a diver
not involved in fish counts initially laying the transect line, and then the two 5m x 50 m
transect blocks are surveyed for fishes by one diver swimming up and back along the line.
Thus, the two blocks are contiguous with no gap between.
Other
• Record separate data for males and females where there is an obvious sex difference in
fishes.
• Look under overhangs and in caves within the 5 m wide band. Record fish such as
damselfishes that live in cave habitat by peering in from the cave entrance, but don’t enter.
• Avoid counting fish when there are other divers in close proximity as this can affect fish
counts. [Plan dives so fish counts can be done with minimal disturbance.] If sealions or other
large marine mammals are around, then make sure that their presence is noted on data
sheets since this can greatly affect the fish survey.
• Don’t count fish that overtake you.
If you recognise the same fish in your area of count while swimming on transects up and back (i.e see
a fish twice that has obviously moved across the transect line), record this animal both times. [This
balances out other fish that moved across the line in the opposite direction, and were not counted.]
How to deal with situations, such as coral rich areas, where diverse communities of fishes are seen
swimming in all directions and you feel overwhelmed
At some sites, trying to assess the abundance of fish life may seem extremely daunting. These situations
are, however, manageable if you recognise that it will be impossible to count all the fishes, and that for the
27

most abundant species estimates will be necessary. As the diver swims along, data should be written down
in order of priority:
Highest priority is the total species list for the transect. Thus, if a diver sights a species of fish
previously unrecorded on the transect, this should be written down immediately.
Second priority is the abundance of large and rare fishes. The numbers of any large, rare and/or
commercially important fish should be written down as these are sighted. If a school of say jacks swims
past, then the total numbers in a small section of that school should be counted and multiplied by an
estimate of what proportion of the total school that section comprises.
Third priority is the number of common small fishes. This number is usually estimated rather than
counted directly. It is important to recognise that numbers recorded in transects will be log
transformed in most statistical analyses, hence whether you record 300 or 400 of a species will make
little difference to interpretation of data. Thus, don’t be overly concerned about accurately counting
numbers of say damselfish in a flock. For extremely abundant species, it is often sufficient to ignore
these while swimming along the transect other than writing down the species name, then at the end
count the number in say a 1 m wide block that extends 5 m along the transect line, then multiply that
number by 50 to get numbers for the 50 m x 5 m wide transect block, adjusting up and down a bit for
whether the number in the area counted seems more or less than the average for the whole transect
length.
Fourth and lowest priority is the size‐distribution. This should be done as accurately as possible for
the large commercial species, but for others size structure is often assessed by partitioning total
abundance counts. For example, you may estimate 400 blue‐spotted damselfish for the transect
length, then think that about half were in the 75 mm size class, with about 10 animals in the 100 mm
size class and the rest evenly divided between the 50 mm and 25 mm classes – making 10 at 100 mm,
200 at 75 mm, 95 at 50 mm and 95 at 25 mm when written down.
Converting fish abundance estimates to biomass
Fish abundance counts and size estimates can be converted to biomass estimates using length‐weight
relationships presented for each species (in some cases genus and family) in Fishbase
(http://www.fishbase.org/search.php). Note that these length‐weight relationships are sometimes
described in terms of standard or fork length rather than total length (as recorded by divers); however,
equations for converting between the different length parameters are also included in Fishbase. For
best accuracy in biomass assessments, the bias in divers’ perception of fish size underwater should be
corrected using equations presented in (Edgar et al. 2004b).
Note that estimates of fish abundance made by divers can be greatly affected by fish behaviour for
many species (Edgar et al. 2004b); consequently biomass determinations, like abundance estimates,
28

can reliably be compared only in a relative sense (ie for comparisons with data collected using the
same methods) rather than used to provide an absolute estimate of fish biomass for a patch of reef.
IMPORTANT THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHEN LEARNING INVERTEBRATE SURVEYS
Target group
• All ‘large’ mobile invertebrates and cryptic fish are counted. ‘Large’ invertebrates are defined
as animals that are more than 2.5 cm (approximately 1 thumb tip) when mature. Species
counted include large gastropods (including nudibranchs), crinoids, sea cucumbers, sea stars,
sea urchins, lobsters and large crabs. Cryptic fish are those closely associated with seaweeds
or the seabed such as gobies, blennies, threefins, cardinalfishes, scorpionfishes, frogfishes,
catsharks, rays, and moray eels. Fishes not regarded as cryptic, hence not counted on these
surveys, include wrasses and damselfishes.
Technique
• Stay close to the bottom and push aside any large seaweeds to reveal the substratum.
• Record abundance of all invertebrates and cryptic fish in 1 m bands on each side of the
transect line.
• Estimate size of cryptic fish using the same size categories as for large fish.
• Search all crevices and cracks but do not turn over rocks or boulders.
• If identification is not possible make a note on your data sheet, put the specimen in your
catch bag and ask others or check books at the end of the dive when on the boat, then return
the animal to the sea.
IMPORTANT THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHEN LEARNING SURVEYS OF SESSILE BIOTA
USING QUADRATS
Target group
All algae, sessile invertebrates and substratum categories
Technique
• Ten quadrats are sampled along each 50 m transect
• Quadrats are placed at 5 m intervals, at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 m marked
positions on the transect line.
• The number of contact points that algae, corals or bare substratum have with the 50
intersection points on quadrat is recorded once the quadrat has been placed in position.
Contact points consist of the 49 quadrat intersection points plus one corner – see Figure
4.Alternatively, 0.5 m x 0.5 m quadrats with line spacing every 50 mm can also be used. These
possess 81 intersection points, with data converted to percentage figures by multiplying by
100/81.
• Count all layers of algae. This is done by counting the canopy species, then brushing these
aside to count what is underneath on the substratum.
• Try to identify coral and other sessile invertebrates and algae to species; if this is not possible
then to genus.
29

• If identification to species or genus is not possible while underwater then make a note on
your data sheet, take a sample (try and get an entire plant) and ask others/check books at the
end of the dive. You may also press the alga for future reference if you have the appropriate
scientific collecting permit.
• Use accepted grouping categories if the species cannot be positively identified (see Table 1
below for substratum categories; Table 2 for algae and Table 3 for sessile invertebrates).
Count everything that
occurs directly under these
81 intersection points plus
1 corner.
Figure 2. Diagram of quadrat used in sessile biota surveys.
Photoquadrats
• Photoquadrats are centred on the transect line. A physical quadrat is not required because
size information is evident from markings on the transect line.
• Photoquadrats should be digitally labelled as soon as possible, with transect depth, date and
site.
• A photo should be taken at the start of the photoquadrat run along each transect showing
the divers depth gauge or dive computer (for permanent record of depth).
REFERENCES
Barrett NS, Buxton CD (2002) Examining underwater visual census techniques for the assessment of
population structure and biodiversity in temperate coastal marine protected areas.
Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Technical Report Series 11:1‐114
Edgar GJ, Banks S, Fariña JM, Calvopiña M, Martínez C (2004a) Regional biogeography of shallow reef
fish and macro‐invertebrate communities in the Galapagos Archipelago. Journal of
Biogeography 31:1107–1124
Edgar GJ, Barrett NS, Morton AJ (2004b) Biases associated with the use of underwater visual census
techniques to quantify the density and size‐structure of fish populations. Journal of
Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 308:269‐290
Edmunds M, Hart S (2003) Parks Victoria Standard Operating Procedure. Biological Monitoring of
Subtidal Reefs. Parks Victoria Technical Series 9:1‐48
30

Kulbicki M (1998) How the acquired behaviour of commercial reef fishes may influence the results
obtained from visual censuses. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 222:11‐
30
Lincoln Smith MP (1988) Effects of observer swimming speed on sample counts of temperate rocky
reef fish assemblages. Marine Ecology Progress Series 43:223‐231
Lincoln‐Smith MP, (1989) Improving multispecies rocky reef fish censuses by counting different
groups of species using different procedures. Environmental Biology of Fishes 26:29‐37
TABLE 1: CATEGORIES TO BE USED FOR SUBSTRATUM CLASSIFICATION.
Substratum
categories
Bare rock (barrens)
Bare rock (non ‐ barrens)
Cobble
Pebbles
Gravel
Sand
Silt on reef
Description
Urchin barrens ‐ rocks grazed bare of macroalgae and most invertebrates,
large numbers of urchins present.
Bare rock cleared by action other than urchin grazing: possibilities include
waterflow, wave action, sand scour.
Loose rock from 80mm to 200mm in diameter or measured across the
longest axis.
Loose rock from 25mm to 80mm in diameter or measured across the
longest axis.
Loose rock from 5mm to 25mm in diameter or measured across the
longest axis.
Sand, shell grit, sediment or silt less than 5mm in diameter.
Sand, shell grit, sediment or silt less than 5mm in diameter that rests on a
hard substratum, silt depth less than 5cm.
TABLE 2: COMMON GROUPING CATEGORIES FOR ALGAE.
Algae categories
Description
Browns
Filamentous browns
Foliose browns
Long chains, threads, or filaments of brown algae. These filaments often
intertwine forming a mat.
Flat leafy brown algae that cannot be identified to genus or species
31

Encrusting algae
Crustose coralline algae
Encrusting brown algae
Encrusting green algae
Hildenbrandia spp.
Peyssonnelia flat
Calcareous pink encrusting algae; “pink paint”
Unidentified brown algae that adhere closely to substratum
Unidentified green algae that adhere closely to substratum
Medium to dark red brown to purplish 3‐80cm across, tightly bound to
substratum, smooth to warty or knobby surface, with very fine felt of hairs
Hard red rubbery encrusting algae
Greens
Filamentous greens
Foliose greens
Long chains, threads, or filaments of green algae. These filaments often
intertwine forming a mat.
Flat leafy red algae that cannot be identified to genus or species
Reds
Filamentous red algae
Foliose reds
Long chains, threads, or filaments of red algae. These filaments often
intertwine forming a mat.
Flat leafy red algae that cannot be identified to genus or species
Turf
Brown Turf
Green Turf
Red turf
Turf/sand/sediment matrix
Dense unidentified brown algae that attain a canopy height of only 1 to 10
mm.
Dense unidentified green algae that attain a height of only 1 to 10 mm.
Dense unidentified red algae that attain a canopy height of only 1 to 10
mm.
Matrix formed by organic sessile structures that trap sand, shell grit,
sediment or silt into a matrix on a hard substratum, usually less than 5cm
deep.
Other
Drift
Unattached algae of any type, sometimes common in depressions on reef.
TABLE 3: COMMON GROUPING CATEGORIES FOR SESSILE INVERTEBRATES.
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Invertebrates
Description
Ascidians
Encrusting ascidians
Ascidians
Ascidians that adhere to substratum closely.
Ascidians that do not adhere to substratum closely
Bryozoans
Encrusting bryozoans
Hard bryozoans
Soft bryozoans
Bryozoans that adhere to substratum closely
Bryozoans that are erect but do not bend if touched.
Bryozoans that are erect but do bend if touched.
Coral
Encrusting soft coral
Soft coral species
Brain coral
Branched coral
Plate coral
Coral (other than plate)
Soft coral that adheres closely to substratum.
Soft coral that does not adhere to substratum closely
Brain coral
Branched coral
Plate coral
Hard coral that does not form plate structure
Sponges
Erect sponges
Sponge (encrusting)
Erect or plate like sponges that do not adhere to substratum closely
Sponges that adhere to substratum closely.
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ANNEX TWO: ECOLOGICAL SUBTIDAL MONITORING FIELD BLOGS
THEMED ENTRIES: INTRODUCED BY DR GENE FELDMAN, NASA OCEAN COLOUR PROGRAM
Taken over a one week monitoring trip in August 2009, various monitoring activities and the reasoning
behind them are described by an observers perspective (Gene Feldman) and through personal accounts
from those directly involved.
1. OCEAN SAMPLING.
In this day of high speed computers, sophisticated satellite observation systems and the continuously
connected world in which we do our science, it has been quite a eye opening and muscle straining
experience to realize that people still do oceanographic research the old fashioned way — by hand! The
ocean waters around the Galapagos teem with life and nowhere is the abundance of phytoplankton,
those microscopic floating plants that form the base of the marine food web and essentially support all
life in the oceans greater, than in the western part of the Archipelago, exactly where our cruise has
taken us. Supported by the nutrient‐rich upwelling of the eastward flowing Equatorial Undercurrent also
known historically as the Cromwell Current, and as some believe, fertilized by the iron‐rich
micronutrients that these volcanic islands have in abundance, the waters between Fernandina and
Isabela have some of the highest phytoplankton concentrations anywhere. The waters are literally
green, more closely resembling a diluted pea soup than the deep blue ocean waters that most people
associate with the open sea.
Image depicting clorophyll‐a concentration
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Feeding at this twenty four hour a day all you can eat buffet of phytoplankton, the tiny animals
that form the next step in the marine food web, the zooplankton, are also so abundant that
they can often be seen with the naked eye, especially the ones that seem to have swallowed
little drops of phosphorescent paint in shades of green, blue, yellow and purple. As interesting
as they may be to look at, to quantify the concentrations of these two critical components of
the marine food web in this incredibly rich and dynamic system, we resort to an age old
technique of dragging very fine mesh nets through the water and seeing what we catch. Since
this work is done from one of the little inflatable pangas, it means that everything has to be
done by hand which is not too bad when letting out the several hundred feet of rope tied to the
end of the two plankton nets that we use. However, when it comes time to haul the nets back
to the boat, what you have at the end of a very long rope is essentially a giant bag filled with
very heavy water.
An age old technique of dragging very fine mesh nets through the water to capture
phytoplankton and zooplankton.
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Cruising along in an inflatable panga, dragging nets.
To catch both the phytoplankton and zooplankton we use two different nets, one tied off to
each side of the panga, one a very fine mesh net that is designed specifically to trap the
microscopic phytoplankton near the surface and the other has a little bit larger mesh that will
let the phytoplankton pass through but catch the larger zooplankton as it is pulled through the
water. Whatever organisms do not pass through the mesh are trapped at the end of the net
and ultimately end up in a little mesh‐lined bottle.
Collecting chlorophyll‐a
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Collecting zooplankton
The differences between the contents of the two nets, both having been pulled at a depth of
one meter for ten minutes is really quite remarkable. The water from the larger meshed net
was essentially crystal clear except that it was filled with all sorts of incredible looking
creatures, many of them eagerly swimming around in their little plastic bottle. There were at
least a few larvae fish and many shrimp‐like zooplankton with large black eyes that jerked their
way through the water as they contracted their bodies in the unfamiliar surroundings. The
smaller meshed yielded a chlorophyll‐a rich phytoplankton filled jar that was impossible to see
through and thankfully for those of us who have made a career of it, reaffirms the basic
premise behind all ocean color remote sensing — that the color of the ocean is largely
determined by the concentration of phytoplankton in the near‐surface waters and this color
can be detected from space. I can’t wait to get back to shore and see what SeaWiFS “saw” as it
flew over the Galapagos today at the same time that we were pulling our nets through the
water, 700 kilometers below.
Phytoplankton and zooplankton, side by side.
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2. LIFE IS MUCH BETTER, DOWN WHERE IT’S WETTER, UNDER THE SEA!
I’ve asked Stuart to write a short description of the scientific background behind the dive
program that is at the heart of the research cruise that I have been fortunate enough to
participate in and that description can be found at the bottom of this journal entry. However, I
wanted to try and graphically illustrate what these amazing folks have done three times a day,
every day of this cruise regardless of conditions.
The Mabel
People may think that diving on the equator must be a pleasure and that all you have to do is
strap on a tank, put on some flippers and a mask and jump over the side. In reality, because of
the cold upwelled waters of the equatorial undercurrent, particularly in the western part of the
Archipelago, it is really hard and bone chilling work. I’ve watched as the two teams of divers
somehow manage to stuff themselves into two layers of neoprene with boots and hoods and
gloves — certainly not what one would expect to wear for diving on the equator. However,
even with all this, the divers emerge after nearly an hour and a half under water with their lips
a nice shade of blue and shivering under the hot equatorial sun. I’ve watched as they’ve draped
their arms and legs around the sides of the pangas, trying to capture any bit of heat that the
dark rubber hulls may have absorbed from the sun, looking remarkably like the marine iguanas,
basking on the black volcanic rocks after they have spent a much shorter time underwater
grazing on the beds of algae.
So here is what a typical day is like for the scientists/divers onboard the M/V Queen Mabel as
I’ve watched them over the past week although, I can’t imagine that diving in such an incredible
place with such amazing marine life all around you could ever be considered “typical”.
38

THE DIVE TEAMS
Stuart Banks, Mariana Vera and Jerson Moreno
Roby Pepolas, Diego Ruiz and Nathalia Tirado
The Panga Drivers
After taking the divers to the dive site, the panga drivers try and maintain their positions above
the divers, keeping an eye on their bubbles and standing by in case there are any emergencies.
If all goes well, and I speak of this from personal experience after having kept them company
for a number of dives, being what I like to call “shake and baked” for the nearly hour and a half
that the divers are down, the divers surface, raise their arms and the panga driver races over to
39

pick them up, help lift their tanks and gear aboard and takes them back to the Mabel as quickly
as he possibly can.
Franklin Arreguin and Angel Rosero
Suiting Up — With a Little Help from a Friend
As mentioned above, diving in most parts of Galapagos is not what you’d expect and a great
deal of time is spent by the divers in trying to fend off the effects of the numbingly‐cold
upwelled water of the equatorial undercurrent that bathes the western parts of the
Archipelago. Trying to insert oneself into two layers of neoprene wet suits is not easy and is
similar in many respects to the extrusion of sausage into its casing, only without the help of a
machine. Getting that last zipper zipped more often than not requires the help of at least one
and many times, two friends.
Suiting up for a dive...
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... with a little help from a friend
Heading Out to the Dive Sites
After having made sure that all the gear they will need has been placed onboard the pangas,
the teams head off to their respective sites finding their locations through a combination of
visual memory and a hand‐held GPS receiver. It is critical to the goals of this program that the
same sites are revisited as closely as possible so that changes over time can be correctly
assessed.
Heading out
After they arrive at the site, final checks of gear are made, regulators tested, masks defogged,
measuring tapes, writing slates and sampling bags are gathered up and on the count of three,
41

the divers fall backwards into the water, purge the air from their buoyancy vests and sink
beneath the waves.
At the dive site
Under the Sea
Back in the Panga
Assuming that everything has gone well, the first diver surfaces approximately eighty to ninety
minutes after submerging and the panga driver races over to meet the divers as they emerge
and helps them back into the pangas and back to the Mabel. Conversation in the panga on the
42

eturn trip is minimal compared to the trip out since everyone is cold, exhausted and just trying
to focus on something other than their shivering bodies.
Picking up a diver
Out of the water and onto the panga to warm up and regroup.
Back on the Mabel
The empty yet still very heavy air tanks are lifted from the bouncing pangas over the rail and
even heavier filled ones are passed down to take their place for the next dive. Dive suits are
peeled off, rinsed and hung to dry for a few hours, the divers rinse off with the cold water foot
pump shower on the dive platform, data from the dive are entered into everyone’s computer,
Angela sorts through the little plastic bags of invertebrate specimens and identifies them with
the aide of a reference book and the combined knowledge of the divers before placing them
back into the ocean. The empty air tanks and gas tanks for the pangas are refilled and before
very long, it’s time to do it all over again.
43

Back to the Mabel
Preparing for the next round
44

Discussions, taking notes
Laptops come in handy
STUART BANKS’ DESCRIPTION OF THE DIVE PROGRAM
Subtidal community monitoring works to characterize the near coast underwater communities
across the entire Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR). It is part of a long‐term project to follow
change in the coastal zone across the different bio‐geographic regions in the GMR, from the
cold upwelled communities dominated by macro‐algae stands in the western islands, to the last
remaining coral reefs in the far northerly islands of Wolf and Darwin. The overall goal is to
gauge how the marine reserve is changing between seasons, between years, under El Nino /
Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and with different types of extractive (fisheries) and non extractive
(tourism) activities. Every year we follow more than 64 fixed sites which were approved
between all GMR stakeholders in 2004 in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the coastal
45

zoning — one of the principal management tools applied by the national park service in the
reserve.
What that means in practice is a LOT of dive work. Two groups of 3‐4 people simultaneously
dive at replicate sites over 22 field days per season which works out at around 40 hours spent
underwater per diver, or 240 diver‐hours in total (10 days!) for the 6 person team. Each diver is
specialized in 2 types of monitoring. Laying 50m parallel transects out at 15m and 6m depths
that follow the bathymetry, one diver visualizes a 5m x 5m corridor alongside each side of the
transect and estimates the size and abundance of all fish, noting also turtles, sea lions, penguins
and cormorants — even the occasional giant manta ray or dolphin. The second diver counts and
measures sizes of all mobile macro‐invertebrates in a 1m band either side of the transect — sea
cucumbers, sea stars, lobsters, octopus, sea urchins, nudibranchs and large marine snails. The
third diver has perhaps the most challenging task — laying quadrants every 5m along the 50m
transect they catalogue every sessile algae or animal under an 81 intersection grid — that’s
1620 measurements per sampled site across the two depths. They record everything that grows
upon the seafloor — corals, algae, sponges, tunicates, hydroids — usually hugely diverse and in
general quite difficult to identify. Over recent years the list of new species has gone up as we
have improved our base line taxonomy. Today we’re routinely covering over 1000 species of
the 2800 registered to date in the marine reserve and the list keeps growing.
Subtidal community monitoring
Since 1994, Charles Darwin Foundation divers have monitored over 2000 x 50m transects —
that’s equivalent to 3‐4 divers swimming over 100 km, sampling sub‐tidal communities. It
sounds a lot, but still compared to the 1670 km of coastline, it is still less than 5% of the total
reserve. Of course on top of that there is also pelagic monitoring — diver drift dives for large
fish and sharks that live in open water, regular monitoring of coral plots, habitat mapping,
oceanographic work with Conductivity Temperature Density (CTD) profiles, satellite sensor
46

ground truth measurements, plankton net trawls, recruitment traps for fish and lobster,
experimental work with settlement plates, directed searches for threatened species, species
level work to study foraging behaviors of higher vertebrates such as penguins, cormorants sea
lions and fur seals, impact assessments for installation of low impact moorings, surveys of hull
growth for invasive marine species, tagging for site fidelity of sharks, deep water exploratory
work with remotely guided submarines, fisheries population monitoring with the National Park
Service…. All run on a shoestring.
So as this trip draws to a close, we can say that for 2009 we again have our finger on the pulse
of the marine reserve — information that will be processed and passed onto decision makers.
There is a lot of work still to do — particularly with making sure that the information gathered
is used in the elaboration of a new management plan for the marine reserve with the National
Park.
FIELD BLOG SCIENCE DIVER BIO‐PICS
MARIANA VERA
Mariana Vera in the field
My name is Mariana Vera, and I’ve been involved in conservation for more than 7 years. Right
now I am working as an associate researcher in the marine coastal research area of the Charles
Darwin Foundation in Galapagos (Ecuador). As a science diver, my work is centered around
47

ecological monitoring and I specialize in taxonomic identification of sessile species (such as
corals, tunicates, gorgonians, sponges and algae among others). I have had the opportunity to
be involved and participate in various science projects that work to improve our understanding
of the islands. Some of the work that I do includes:
Participant in research and monitoring trips as a part of the Marine Ecosystem team working as
a scientific diver. (9 Sub‐tidal Eco‐monitoring trips, 3 Oceanographic trips (NASA‐OCEAN), 3
Coral Monitoring trips (Darwin Initiative), Surveys under Marine Management Area Science
(MMAS) program Costa Rica/Coco Island, 1 monitoring MMAS‐Incofish trip to Puerto Lopez/La
Plata Island, 1 monitoring and training trip Los Roques Archipelago, Venezuela, 1 monitoring
Pre Sea Cucumber fishing season, Support diver with visiting scientists.
Dive, collection, otolith extraction, and information registry for juvenile fishes.
Logistic technical support in field trips, equipment and material preparation
Data entry and management of information in the CDRS Submarine Ecological database.
Data analysis and biodiversity statistics
Report preparation.
Collect new species in the field towards biodiversity registry, CDRS marine inventory and IUCN
red list.
Work with invasive species
Organize conferences and marine conservation educational outreach.
Mariana reading up on birds
Before working at the research station, I was a consultant for Conservation International,
developing fisheries databases for Galapagos, giving interviews to the fishing sector as part of a
CI initiative towards changing fishermen livelihoods (reducing overfishing) and also collected
information from the different sector groups using the port zones towards implementing a
micro‐zoning to coordinate activities in those areas.
I also had the opportunity to work in the fisheries monitoring program as a research assistant,
monitoring the main fisheries in the islands (sea cucumbers, lobsters, white fin fish), working
directly with the fishermen down at the local docks, as an on‐board fisheries observer and in
48

the distribution centers. As well as working with the Charles Darwin Research Station, I also
volunteered with their counterpart in the marine resources area of the Galapagos National Park
Service.
All that I have experienced since living here, has made me aware of the fragility of these islands
and the serious problems that they confront, not only for marine conservation, but also in the
terrestrial realm. I’m very conscious of the fact that all of us who work in conservation do so
because we have an enormous responsibility and connection to preserve these fantastic
islands. For that reason we are willing to help, and the only way to do that is to have a better
understanding of the biodiversity and all and every component of the island ecosystem — that
is the work that drives me and the central mission of the Charles Darwin Foundation.
Mariana enjoying some time with an iguana
Spanish/Español
Mi nombre es Mariana Vera, he estado involucrada en el Área de Conservación por mas de
siete años, Actualmente estoy trabajando como Investigador Asociado en elÁrea de
49

Investigación Marina y Costera de la Fundación Charles Darwin en Galápagos, Ecuador. Como
buzo científico mi principal trabajo es en monitoreo ecológico y destrezas en la identificación
taxonómica de especies sésiles (tales como corales, tunicados, gorgonias, esponjas y algas entre
otros). He tenido la oportunidad de estar involucrada y participar en varios proyectos científicos
relevantes para el mejor conocimiento de las islas:
Participante en viajes de investigación y monitoreo como parte del equipo de Ecosistemas
Marinos como buzo científico. (9 viajes de Eco‐monitoreo, 3 viajes Oceanográficos (NASA‐
OCEAN), 3 viajes de monitoreo de corales (Darwin Initiative), Viaje de investigación bajo el
programa Marine Management Area Science (MMAS) Costa Rica / Isla de Cocos, 1 viaje de
monitoreo MMAS‐Incofish a Puerto López / Isla La Plataa, 1 viaje de entrenamiento y
monitoreo al Archipiélago de Los Roques, Venezuela, 1 viaje de monitoreo Pre‐temporada de
pesquería de Pepino de mar, apoyo de buceo a científicos visitantes.
Buceo, colección, extracción de otolitos y registro de información para peces juveniles.
Soporte técnico‐logístico en viajes de campo, preparación de materiales y equipo
Ingreso de datos, manejo de información en la Base de datos Ecológica – SED.
Análisis de datos y estadística de biodiversidad.
Preparación de reportes.
Colección de nuevas especies en el campo actualizando el registro de biodiversidad, inventario
marino de la Fundación Charles Darwin y la lista roja de la UICN
Trabajo con especies invasivas – colaboración con el PNG.
Organizar conferencias y charlas educacionales de conservación marina
Laboré como Consultor para Conservación Internacional, elaborando base de datos de
Pesquerías para Galápagos, realizando encuestas al sector pesquero como parte de una
iniciativa de Conservación Internacional hacia el cambio de actividad de los pescadores (reducir
sobrepesca) y levantando información de los diferentes usuarios de las zonas portuarias
cercanas al Puerto, respecto a la implementación de la microzonificación en estas áreas
Además tuve la oportunidad de trabajar en el programa de monitoreo pesquero como
Asistente de Investigación, monitoreando las principales pesquerías que se desarrollan en las
islas (Pepinos, langostas, pesca blanca), teniendo relación directa con los integrantes del sector
pesquero en los muelles locales, como observador pesquero a bordo de embarcaciones y
centros de distribución. También trabaje de voluntaria en la misma área y en el Parque Nacional
Galápagos, en el Área de Recursos Marinos.
Todas las experiencias obtenidas mientras he vivido aquí, me han brindado la posibilidad para
darme cuenta de la fragilidad de estas islas y de los serios problemas que confronta, no solo en
la parte en la parte de conservación marina sino también en la terrestre, soy consciente que
para todos nosotros quienes trabajamos en conservación lo hacemos por que tenemos un
enorme compromiso con estas fantásticas islas y con la conservación de las mismas, por esa
razón estamos dispuestos a ayudar a preservarlas, la única manera es teniendo un mejor
entendimiento de su biodiversidad y de todos y cada unos de los componentes de sus
ecosistemas, ese es justamente el trabajo que me impulsa y la función central de la Fundación
Charles Darwin.
50

Angela M. Kuhn
Angela M. Kuhn
Cuando decidí estudiar oceanografía quizá no imaginé realmente lo que implicaba. Deseaba
una carrera que se relacionara con el ambiente y la comprensión física de sus procesos, que no
sólo me proveyera de un título sino y la sensación de estar haciendo algo por el resto del
mundo, que me permitiera disfrutar momentos de tranquilidad en la playa. Ninguna de estas
razones tenía mucho sentido para mis padres. Pero el camino ha de mostrado hasta ahora, con
sus altos y bajos, ser ciertamente gratificante.
Oceanografía es una carrera poco común en Ecuador, muchos ignoran incluso que es impartida
en el país. Desde disección de copépodos y análisis granulométricos, hasta medición de
corrientes y perfiles de playa es como una rápida excursión turística. Así, la primera vez que
llegué a Galápagos fue como pasante en la división de meteorología del crucero oceanográfico
regional de la armada ecuatoriana, durante mi segunda año de carrera. Fueron sólo un par de
días en tierra, pero el deseo de volver permaneció hasta el final de la misma.
Actualmente, con una beca proporcionada por la Fundación Charles Darwin, realizo mi tesis
sobre la incidencia de la temperatura del mar en las comunidades submareales. Este estudio
sólo es posible gracias al trabajo de muchos investigadores, voluntarios y estudiantes que a lo
largo de más de diez años y como parte de diversos proyectos, han contribuido a la recopilación
y construcción de una base de datos biológicos y oceanográficos de la reserva marina. Puesto
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que el área de la reserva de Galápagos está dentro de un sistema físico altamente dinámico, la
variabilidad espacial y temporal es reflejada por igual en la distribución de las comunidades
marinas. Fuertes contrastes en la composición biótica son apreciables incluso en pequeñas
islas, hábitat de algas bajo la influencia de aguas frías de afloramiento y parches de coral en
aguas más temperadas, en sitios apenas separados por pocos kilómetros.
Punta Espinoza ‐ 20m
La medida en que las especies responden a variaciones de temperatura da una idea de su
vulnerabilidad a eventos de mayor intensidad como El Niño o aumentos progresivos de la
temperatura oceánica, identificando posibles especies indicadoras de los cambios ambientales
por su sensibilidad o adaptabilidad. Muestra además los sitios de la reserva con mayor facilidad
de recuperación y aquellos donde la resilencia debe ser fortalecida. El estudio incluye control
de calidad de series de tiempo de sensores de temperatura a diferentes profundidades, y la
revisión de las relaciones espaciales y temporales es distintas escalas de variabilidad; y observa
el efecto del “choque térmico”, o la rapidez en que ocurren los cambios de temperatura.
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Collecting samples and data
El objetivo conjunto y a largo plazo de estudios como este, es la evaluación de la zonificación
costera de la reserva. Reconociendo los sitios de importancia ecológica y aquellos donde la
resilencia natural se encuentra afectada, puede proponerse una redistribución de la presión
antropogénica que permita la sostenibilidad de los recursos.
La beca de la FCD no es tan sólo una facilidad para cumplir un requisito académico. El
asesoramiento, apoyo y motivación del equipo de investigación crean un ambiente de
confianza para el desarrollo profesional en esta primera etapa. Permite compartir
provechosamente las capacidades en las distintas áreas de interés específico de cada
investigador y abre un amplio horizonte de visión científica al establecer contacto con otros
expertos del ámbito. Charlas, talleres y conversaciones personales con reconocidos científicos
cuyos trabajos han sido parte de mis lecturas como estudiante, contribuyen a una formación
más realística y son continua fuente de inspiración.
Discussing data
Ha sido también la oportunidad de involucrarme con el trabajo base del departamento de
investigación marina. Este incluye la realización de cruceros de monitoreo submareal y
oceanográfico para mantener actualizada la base de datos. La temperatura del mar es medida
en sitios establecidos para monitoreo, en perfiles hasta 80 metros de profundidad mediante el
uso de un CTD y se toman muestras de fito y zooplancton para análisis posterior en el
laboratorio.
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Angela... suited up
A bordo se realiza la identificación de los pequeños moluscos recogidos por los buzos en el
transecto de monitoreo. Cuando se trata del océano a veces la parte más mínima tiene una
gran importancia.
Analyzing, researching
Creo que este “alimento” multidisciplinario es el que a futuro me permitirá una visión más
holística, no sólo del funcionamiento del ecosistema y sus interacciones físicas y biológicas, sino
también del necesario rol de cada una de las actividades de investigación. Cada vez todo es
nuevo e inquietante, y muchas veces parece difícil elegir qué camino de investigación tomar.
Pero ciertamente me hallo fascinada por la noción del movimiento. Nuestro universo entero,
nuestro planeta se mueve en ciclos de armonía. Así como el viento provoca las ondulaciones del
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mar, y ondas internas dentro de él propagan cambios que bosquejan las condiciones para el
establecimiento de distintos hábitats y comunidades; los hombres deberíamos movernos por
igual en conjunto con nuestras necesidades y las capacidades de nuestro ambiente. Y el papel
de la ciencia es tratar de explicar estos ciclos para re‐educarnos en el cómo.
Sunset
La aplicación de los conocimientos científicos para una eficaz respuesta que favorezca a la
conservación y sustento de las poblaciones costeras ecuatorianas, es el fin que presenta para
mí el mayor atractivo. Así, espero continuar mi carrera en ámbitos de ecología aplicada y
manejo ambiental costero que permita la construcción de índices de fácil entendimiento y
utilización en medidas y políticas.
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Diego J. Ruiz
Diego J. Ruiz
Diego taking notes
Since 2006, I’ve been an Associate Researcher at Marine Ecosystem Monitoring Program of the
Charles Darwin Foundation, and also an Associate Researcher at Nazca Institute of Marine
Research since 2003.
My main scientific responsibility is for the Modeling of Bolivar Channel System – Galapagos,
integrating the available ecological and fisheries information of the Charles Darwin Foundation,
based on this model the effects of different fishing regimes and oceanographic conditions shall
be explored to understand the ecosystem response as a tool to provide management strategies
in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
Spanish/Español
Investigador asociado en el Programa de Monitoreo de Ecosistemas Marinos de la Fundación
Charles Darwin desde el año 2006, e Investigador Asociado del Instituto Nazca de
Investigaciones Marinas desde el año 2003.
Actualmente desarrollando un Modelo Trófico del Sistema del Canal Bolívar en Galápagos,
integrando la información ecológica y pesquera disponible en la Fundación Charles Darwin.
Basados en este modelo se pretende explorar los efectos de diferentes regimenes de
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pesquerías y condiciones oceanográficas como una herramienta que permite entender las
respuestas del ecosistema y proporcionar lineamientos para estrategias de manejo en la
Reserva Marina de Galápagos
Bolivar channel system
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Roberto Pépolas: Safety Diving Officer, Logistic support
Roberto Pépolas
My main role within the Charles Darwin Foundation is to be aware of the safety during the field
activities in the marine and terrestrial areas. I also participate in the different marine research
projects that are going on. In the ecological Monitoring after seven years of participation; I
identify and take notes of the number and size of the fishes inside the transects we run across
the entire Marine Reserve of this wonderful and unique paradise.
Another fundamental part of my duties is to ensure that all the equipment regarding the diving
operation are in optimal conditions (scuba equipments, compressors, inflatable boats,
outboard engines, etc).
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Checking equipment, hanging out, diving
There are other interesting and important projects running in the Marine area where I’m also
involved, such as the Galapagos and Hammerhead’s shark tagging and/or the installation of
permanent anchors (Halas and Helix systems) where I lead the practical component.
I definitely must admit that I consider myself a lucky person and thankful to have a life which
gives me the possibility to know the amazing and beautiful underwater world of the Galapagos
islands, to be able to contribute a little towards conserving it and to allow me to have a family
where I can see my kids growing up surrounded by peace and nature.
Roberto and his family
We have at the moment the necessary basic tools to be able to perform our objectives; but it
would be ideal if we could get in the near future new technology that is already available but
we are not able to possess because of the lack of economical resources, such as: Enriched Air
Nitrox , rebreathers and dry suits. Counting upon such equipment would contribute to reduce
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the risks regarding diving illness and also to get more and/or different scientific types of
information.
Roberto on the water
Spanish/Español
Roberto Pépolas – Oficial de Seguridad de Buceo, Apoyo Logístico
Mi rol principal dentro de la Fundación Charles Darwin; es el de velar por la seguridad en las
actividades de investigación que se desarrollan en el campo, tanto en el área marina como
terrestre.
Participo también activamente dentro de los diferentes proyectos de investigación marinos que
se ejecutan. En el monitoreo ecológico submarino, luego de siete años de participar;
actualmente cumplo con el rol de identificar y registrar tamaño y cantidad de los diferentes
peces que existan dentro de los transectos que realizamos en toda la Reserva Marina de este
maravilloso y único paraíso.
Parte fundamental de mis responsabilidades es la de velar que contemos con las herramientas
necesarias en optimas condiciones; para poder cumplir con nuestro trabajo (equipos de buceo
autónomo, compresores, botes, motores, equipos de emergencia, etc).
Existen dentro del área marina diferentes proyectos ejecutándose, todos ellos con la finalidad
de contribuir a la conservación del entorno marino y sus ecosistemas.
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Participo también activamente en todos ellos, como por ejemplo: el de marcaje de tiburones
(Galápagos y Martillos) y en la implementación de fondeaderos permanentes, el cual lidero en
lo que a su instalación práctica se refiere.
Cabe mencionar que Julio Delgado, nacido en la isla San Cristóbal y Divemaster, quien trabaja a
mi lado, contribuye enormemente en cumplir con las responsabilidades antes mencionadas.
Definitivamente, debo admitir , que me considero una persona muy afortunada y agradecida
con la vida , por haberme dado la posibilidad de conocer el increíblemente bello mundo
submarino que Galápagos posee , de poder contribuir un poquito en conservarlo y de haber
formado una familia y ver crecer a mis hijos rodeados de tanta paz y naturaleza.
Contamos al momento con las herramientas básicas necesarias para poder cumplir con
nuestros objetivos, pero seria ideal a futuro, poder contar con mayor tecnología que al
momento es accesible pero la cual no poseemos debido a la escasez de recursos económicos
como por ejemplo: Aire enriquecido (EAN), Equipos de circuito cerrado y trajes de buceo secos.
El poder contar con lo antes mencionado, contribuiría enormemente en cuanto a poder reducir
riesgos de enfermedades relacionadas al buceo y a su vez en la obtención de mayor
información científica.
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Jerson Moreno
Biologist Jerson Moreno is describing the activities he has been involved in since he started
working the Galapagos in 1998, most of them involving monitoring small marine animals such
as fish and lobster. For those who don’t speak Spanish, any web‐based translation program can
give you a rough idea of what he has been up to.
Jerson Moreno
Llegue a las islas Galápagos alrededor del 1998, como voluntario por 6 meses para el
departamento marino en la Isla Isabela. En 1999, cuando me ofrecieron quedarme, como
asociado no fue difícil aceptar pues ya había quedado enamorado de esta encantadora isla
(Isabela) y así pase a formar parte del grupo de investigaciones pesqueras coordinando
actividades de monitoreo y evaluación de recursos extraíbles de la Reserva Marina de
Galápagos. Por ocho años viví en Isabela, involucrado en los diferentes trabajo tanto en el
aspecto pesquero como social.
Tiempo en el que me fui formando como:
Observador pesquero con amplia experiencia en monitoreo a bordo de embarcaciones de pesca
artesanal para pesca costera y pesca de altura de peces pelágicos grandes.
Toma de información de recursos extraíbles; pesca blanca (peces) langosta, pepino de mar,
pulpo, churo y chitones.
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En manejo de bases de datos Access y SQL para el ingreso y análisis de información pesquera.
Buzo investigador especialista en monitoreo de macro invertebrados y con el conocimiento de
monitoreo de peces y pelágicos grandes.
Actualmente vivo en Puerto Ayora isla Santa Cruz, donde he tenido la oportunidad de
involucrarme y colaborar con más proyectos como:
Captura, marcaje y recaptura de las tres especies de langosta presente en Galápagos.
Telemetría y ecología trófica de la langosta espinosa Panulirus penicillatus.
Monitoreo ecológico para evaluar la zonificación en la Reserva Marina de Galápagos
Monitoreo y asentamiento fases larvarias de langostas espinosas; proyecto que actualmente se
está desarrollando en isla Floreana.
Jerson
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Nathalia Tirado Sánchez
Editor’s note: A second Spanish‐only guest blog, from Gene’s shipmate Nathalia Tirado Sánchez,
describes how a family vacation to the tropics when she was five ended up with them staying to
live on the Galapagos. At that age, she remembers feeling like she had gone back in time, to a
place where dinosaurs (marine iguanas) still lived. Volunteer work with the Charles Darwin
Foundation fostered a strong desire to do work that was connected to the ocean life of the
islands. Today, she is studying the relationship between ocean conditions and the zooplankton
of the Galapagos. At the end of her post, she talks about how important it is to her to teach her
children and the rest of their generation about the unique ecology of the Galapagos so that
those who love the islands and want to live there have the information they need to preserve
the place they love for future generations.
Nathalia Tirado Sánchez
Realmente aún no estoy segura del momento en que mi familia emprendió unas vacaciones de
verano de la sierra ecuatoriana y terminamos quedándonos a vivir en las Islas Galápagos, nos
encantó un lugar misterioso, tranquilo y alejado de la vida de ciudad; con un espectáculo único,
que jamás habíamos visto, hasta ahora recuerdo mi primera impresión de niña a los 5 años fue
que llegue al pasado, cuando aún existían dinosaurios (iguanas marinas), pero nada que ver
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estos eran muy pequeños. Desde entonces no he dejando de aprender cada día sobre éste
hermoso rincón que ahora es herencia natural de la humanidad.
Iguanas
A medida que pasaba el tiempo fue aprendiendo a vivir de forma y con necesidades diferentes
a las de una ciudad, ejemplo nunca de niña nunca tuve un programa de televisión favorito,
tenia rincón de snorkel favorito, ese tipo de cosas que no se hacen con facilidad en una ciudad.
En fin quería conocer mas sobre la diversidad de Galápagos y quise ser voluntaria de la
Fundación Chales Darwin, inicialmente en asuntos contables pero no era suficiente, buscaba
algo más que me permitiera sentirme parte del lugar en que vivía y que a la vez me hiciera feliz,
una combinación poco fácil de conseguir pero creo que había descubierto el camino.
Finalmente me encontré nuevamente viviendo en la ciudad y tratando de acomodar mi vida
provinciana a citadina, es así que terminé estudiando una carrera en Ciencias, pensaba que
sería muy fácil, descubrir cosas nuevas y aportar cada día con mis conocimientos a mejorar la
conservación de la biodiversidad de Galápagos.
Inicialmente trabaje en asuntos pesqueros y todo lo relacionado con el sistema de monitoreo
primero de recursos como canchalagua (Quiton), luego con monitoreo de especies de interés
comercial como langostas y pepinos de mar. Durante mi tiempo de vacaciones y tiempo
haciendo voluntariados en la Fundación Charles Darwin, logre descubrir que llegaban a mí el
interés en los organismos más microscópicos que son la fuente principal de vida en el mar. Una
vez terminada mi carrera inicié el estudio de zooplancton en la isla Santa Cruz, y que
posteriormente se extendió a toda la Reserva Marina de Galápagos (RMG) con la finalidad de
caracterizar la variabilidad del zooplancton para la RMG y su relación con factores
oceanográficos; fácilmente conceptualizado, luego de un par de años en el microscopio ahora
tengo un amplio juego de datos para empezar a procesar las relaciones conceptualizadas.
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Water sample
Finalmente con la información recaba durante el análisis de laboratorio he completado una
Base de datos de las especies de zooplancton registradas para la RMG en cada sitio muestreado
en la RMG con información ecológica de las especies y una pequeña guía fotográfica de algunas
de las especies identificadas. Actualmente se encuentra disponible en la página web de la FCD,
y que esperamos incrementar con el transcurso del tiempo y la red de colaboradores que
actualmente se está desarrollado con esta finalidad.
Ya a bordo de una embarcación era casi imposible vencer la tentación de empezar a explorar el
mundo submarino, y finalmente me decidí obtuve mi certificación de buceo y empecé a
explorar el fondo marino, nada más maravilloso que ciento de peces nadando junto a ti, cual
peces nuevo que todos quieren conocer o los inquietos lobitos marinos que a decir por los
comentarios de una compañero cuando son jóvenes su alto grado de actividad pueden
dificultar enormemente el trabajo submarino. Y por supuesto ahora ayudo en el trabajo de
campo colectando información de organismos macroinvertebrados móviles (langostas, erizos
de mar, pepinos, gasterópodos grandes) lo que me ha permitido conocer a Galápagos no solo
en sus ambientes terrestres sino también submareales, lo que me ha permitido tener una
mejor idea de lo diverso y maravilloso de este pequeño punto geográfico en el mundo.
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Nathalia
Entre idas y venidas entre la universidad y Galápagos conocí a la persona con la que comparto
mis días, y tuvimos un hijo hermoso que de algún modo reafirmó mis raíces en el lugar que
amo, luego mi hija los dos de la misma edad, que han desarrollado en mi las ganas de querer
ser parte de la solución y crear cosas que ayuden a cambiar la forma de vida de la gente que
habita en las Islas Galápagos, que a mi criterio es una de los problemas de enfrenta
actualmente la región.
Nathalia
Por lo que pienso que uno de los principalmente temas que necesitan ser fortalecidos en el
educativo, me he vincula a la escuela de mis hijos queriendo fortalecer las capacidad de la
institución y a la vez quiero ayudar a formar una nueva generación de seres humanos que
realmente tengan muy clara la particularidad de las islas Galápagos y que hayan desarrollado
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un alto grado de sensibilidad con el medio que los rodea, conocedores de aspectos físicos,
químicos‐ biológicos y humanos de medio y sus interacciones y sus problemas actuales y
futuros, no solo el concepto de un lugar de ensueño que actualmente con la creciente empresa
turística crece ampliamente. Creo que el mejor modo de entender y conocer las cosas es a
través de vivir día a día consientes de cada una de nuestras actividades diarias y a la vez
mejorando el aspecto ambiental que está incorporando lentamente en el currículo formal del
perfil de los niños y jóvenes que han nacido y quieres vivir el resto de su vida en las islas. De tal
modo que conjuntamente con otros maestros con el mismo criterio hemos tratado de
implementar actividades que nos permitan conocer y valorar lo que tenemos, y sobre todo una
consciencia real de cual es el rol de cada uno en el lugar que hemos decidido vivir y que
queremos conservar para el mañana.
“Vive el lugar que amas” Patricio Proaño.
Creo firmemente que el mejor modo de conservar, preservar o cualquier término que
busquemos para lograr este fin, es a través de crear una cultura de vida propia de la gente de
este lugar, muy alejada a la de una ciudad, pero única debido a valor biológico, histórico y
cultural que representa Galápagos para el mundo.
Boys on the beach
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Be Careful What You Wish For
SeaWiFS
Ever since SeaWiFS was launched back in August of 1997, I had hoped to figure out some way of
getting a high resolution satellite receiving station installed on the islands to collect a time
series that would once and for all provide a data set for generations to come that would help
characterize the ocean’s biological response to a changing environment in this most unique
part of the world. Unfortunately, things never seemed to work out quite right until a cold
November day in 2000 when I first met Stuart Banks. After a number of e‐mail exchanges with
some folks in Galapagos and Stuart, his travel plans were changed at the last minute so that he
stopped off at Goddard on his way down to the Galapagos for the second time and spent the
evening at my home and the next day at Goddard where together with John Morrison, we
hatched a plan that was to profoundly influence the course of both of our lives. To this day,
both my daughters who were 17 and 12 at the time remember the night they had dinner with
this very charming young man from Great Britain with the terrific accent. For me, it was
realization of a dream that started back in 1982 when I first started observing these marvelous
islands from space with data from the Coastal Zone Color Scanner. For Stuart, it was the start
of what was to become an incredible scientific and personal adventure that continues to this
day.
I asked Stuart to try and find some time in between the continuous diving and data logging that
has filled his team’s days onboard the M/V Queen Mabel to provide a more personal
perspective on his work here in Galapagos. True to form, Stuart went way beyond what I could
have ever hoped for and here is what he wrote.
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Stuart Banks
Stuart Banks
Science Role:
Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) Oceanographer, Marine Ecologist, Marine Biologist, Marine
GIS and Data Manager
Admin Role:
Project and Proposal Development, Project management, Marine finances, Fund raising
Outreach Role:
CDF applied marine science local, national, international forums
CDF Role:
Coordinator: Marine Ecosystem Research and Monitoring
Theme leader: Monitoring of Ecological Change
PI Flagship initiative: Climate variability, Change & Adaptation in the Galapagos Archipelago
When asked whether I’d like to contribute to a blog about my time in Galapagos I wasn’t
entirely sure where to start. It’s fair to say that even now after eight years of often unbelievable
(occasionally surreal) moments, chain of unlikely events, a fair share of challenges (to put it
mildly) it is still something of a surprise that I find myself here, rolling around in a boat with the
smoldering volcano of Fernandina Island looming over the mist out the window as I try to
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punch fish data into my laptop. Time and time again I find it helps to have a little reality check
to remind yourself where you are — just in case you get used to it…
Stuart, scenes from the Galapagos
Ten years ago I caught my first glimpse of Galapagos, but from afar. By afar, I should say,
satellite images. Studying oceanography in the National Oceanography Centre in the south of
England, I began to look at how sea surface temperature changed around the archipelago using
satellite data, yet never could have guessed how close it would finally take me to the islands. In
2000 I was asked to help organize the first marine biodiversity records at the Charles Darwin
Research Station (CDRS) — a step that took me on a roundabout route through NASA‐GSFC, and
led to the installation of a dedicated receiving station for the SeaWiFS mission collecting data
across the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
Installation of the SeaWiFS receiving station
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Computer interface for the receiving station
A fair amount of “Spanglish” and a multitude of research projects have since taken us across
the entire Galapagos Marine Reserve — some of the first descriptions of the marine realm since
being declared a World Heritage site, thanks to a cast of dozens of marine scientists.
I was captivated by the challenge and great unknowns that remain in Galapagos, changing hats
as oceanographer, marine biologist, ecologist, GIS technician, science diver, developing marine
projects for the Charles Darwin Foundation with a colorful cast of characters — fishermen, tour
operators, international scientists, conservation Non Governmental Organizations (NGO), navy
researchers, and Park rangers. The niche that first attracted me was the determination of
oceanographic processes — the driving forces behind marine biodiversity and biogeography in
the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) at the small scales important to management. To that
end we’ve helped coordinate research in a number of complementary projects (NASA satellite
oceanography, marine ecosystem dynamics, long term Galapagos monitoring systems
evaluating Marine Protected Area (MPA) effectiveness, coral surveys, IUCN red listing, search
for rare species, climate change adaptation etc.) that use a range of methods to examine
human and climatic interactions in the coastal zone. National Park partners, Navy, local
organizations and visiting scientist groups, are all vital collaborators. It’s the technical
information that we develop together engendering a sense of ownership that helps evaluate
and improve adaptive management measures as the islands and community continually
change. “Climate smart” marine protected areas, invasive species control, long term
biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries and tourism management are easy to write
down on a proposal, but less straightforward to put into practice.
Strangely enough Galapagos presents two faces for me — which are difficult to reconcile. The
side of Galapagos that never fails to amaze and inspire will be apparent to anyone fortunate
enough to have dipped their head below the waterline in the archipelago.
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Image depicting chlorophyll‐a concentration
We are usually blown away not by crystal clear water (far from it), but by the astounding
charismatic life and variety. In fact it’s the pea soup of productivity (the same that the SeaWiFS
sensor so dramatically highlighted) that brings life to the islands — from schools of hundreds of
hammerhead sharks, to immense mantas, penguins darting like feathered torpedos through
cold upwelled water, to orcas and whale sharks, endemic scallops peering at you through
dozens of eyes while spotted morays peer between massive coral heads, sealions tug at your
fins and whales breach alongside sheltered bays.
You realize very quickly, that this is a place worth fighting for. Some of my most memorable
moments are beneath the water — being eye to eye with a 60ft humpback and screaming non
stop for 5 minutes is up there as being fairly unforgettable, as well as watching huge ungainly
Mola mola sunfish cruise past as flightless cormorants glide around searching for a damsel fish
snack.
The other face is more worrying. Over the last 40 years the human presence in the islands has
increased exponentially, and we are rapidly reaching a critical crossroads between a sustainable
future for the islands, or a shift in the natural environment where we stand to lose biodiversity.
Galapagos is no stranger to change — since pirates arrived in previous centuries and whalers
removed huge numbers of Galapagos giant tortoises as fresh food stores on ships, there has
been a human footprint. Today restoration programs between Charles Darwin Foundation and
the Park have greatly restored these populations — although Lonesome George, last of his kind
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holds testimony to how susceptible endemic species are to extinction upon such small islands.
A repeating pattern of overexploited coastal fisheries for sea cucumber and lobster, fishing
down the food web for coastal fin fish, and today a huge increase in tourism (one of the most
rapid in the world) creates a new set of challenges for conservation.
Human impact on climate change
Marine accidents and oil spills occur more frequently, overfishing and illegal fishing of keystone
reef predators such as reef fish and lobster and shark encourages the formation of uncontrolled
urchin barrens, reducing the capability of the marine ecosystem to recover after strong El Niño
events. As tourism drives development, more materials and flights increase the chances that
invasive species establish in the islands. At huge expense goats, rats, cats, pigs have been
eradicated from some islands, wild blackberry persists as do fire ants. The microscopic threats
are less easy to remove — avian flu, West Nile virus in the islands would be catastrophic.
Overlaid upon everything is the ever present El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) — with global
climate change we expect that these climatic events will certainly be more intense. As climate
shifts, the biophysical gradients shift with implications for the entire ecosystem and the
resources upon which the local community depends.
In fact those are a few of the reasons why we’re here this week freezing under the sea while
under the equatorial sun. Rolling around in the swell and peering through a pea soup of
plankton upwelling around the western islands. It’s part of a long term submarine and coastal
monitoring program to both understand the interaction between climate, oceanography,
marine communities, human use and also help evaluate and improve management measures
such as the Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR) coastal zoning system of fisheries take and notake
tourism and Marine Protected Areas.
75

The Charles Darwin Foundation is an international NGO that works as technical advisory to the
Ecuadorian government applying that science to the conservation of the Galapagos to help get
a handle on these problems and plan for a sustainable future. Although much of the solution
lies in supporting governance, it is vitally important to have your finger on the “pulse” of the
reserve. The trick is how to make the links between people and key messages and also
understand the interdependencies between the needs of GMR users and the capacity of the
natural resource to support their activities without degrading the natural function of the unique
ecosystem.
So as we work to understand and protect the Galapagos Marine ecosystem, how it changes its
unique character between seasons, between years under the El Nino Southern Oscillation and
under the drastic changes since people colonized the islands, it’s comforting to know that there
are some extremely talented people here on the islands doing the best they can under difficult
circumstances to draw attention to the problems and search for solutions. The key is how to
reduce those novel human stresses so that the “human footprint” becomes as light as possible.
An international network of those inspired by ambling iguanas and dramatic lunar landscapes
watching Galapagos from afar — through their universities, through interested concerned
individuals… even from space – all have helped a huge amount. But I most admire those local
researchers and Park rangers dedicating themselves day to day – not the least of whom are on
this same boat working to put the pieces together for a sustainable future for the Islands.
Parque Nacional Galaoagos
76

It will always be a privilege to be here and work with them on what often seems a frontier
between development and conservation values. If we can do it in a place like Galapagos, then
there’s some hope for the rest of the world’s oceans.
The Galapagos
77

Diving in Ash
Thinking back on all of the things that have led up to my Journey to Galapagos, I would have
never realized the impact that a simple one line e‐mail would have. It all started with this note
that I sent to Stuart Banks on the morning of 13 April 2009:
To: Stuart Banks
From: gene carl feldman
Date: 04/13/2009 07:52AM
stuart,
were you guys on fire yesterday or is it another eruption?
gene
Within hours, Stuart replied:
From: Stuart Banks
To: gene carl feldman
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:02:26 ‐0500
Hi Gene,
Eruption in Fernandina Island – lava reached the coast in just 1 day
(SW Cabo Hammond), so seems like a big one!
Stuart
Little could I imagine that in a little more three months time, I would be at that very spot sitting
in a zodiac as Stuart and the dive team from the Charles Darwin Research Station went over the
side and beneath into the depths in hopes of gazing at some of the newest land on Planet
Earth.
Earth Observatory's coverage of the eruption on Fernandina Island
NASA’s Earth Observatory followed the story:
Eruption on Isla Fernandina
In early April 2009, La Cumbre Volcano on Isla Fernandina in the Galapagos Islands erupted.
Sulfur Dioxide Plume from Isla Fernandina
A combination of two satellite overpasses tracks the movement of sulfur dioxide westward
from Isla Fernandina on April 14, 2009.
78

Eruption on Isla Fernandina, April 14, 2009
La Cumbre Volcano on Isla Fernandina continued erupting in mid‐April 2009. On April 14, 2009,
continuous ash and steam emissions produced a plume that stretched some 250 kilometers
(135 nautical miles) west of the summit, according to the U.S. Air Force Weather Agency.
I have to say that although I had become very familiar with those images of the eruption, they
certainly did not prepare me for what it felt like to be actually steaming back and forth along
that primordial coastline, a place whose description I have found none better than that written
in 1835 by FitzRoy in his Journal of the Voyage of the Beagle:
“we then weighed [anchor], and continued our examination of this unearthly shore. Passing a
low projecting point, our eyes and imagination were engrossed by the strange wildness of the
view; for in such a place Vulcan might have worked. Amidst the most confusedly heaped masses
of lava, black and barren, as if hardly yet cooled, innumerable craters (or fumeroles) showed
their very regular, even artificial looking heaps. It was like immense iron works, on a Cyclopian
scale!”
Although we had what was the exact location of the place where the lava entered the sea as
provided to us by Godfrey Merlen (more on him in a bit), it was hard to discern exactly what
might have been the most recent deposit amongst all the charred and jagged rubble that we
could see along the coast. The captain carefully guided the Mabel as close to the coast as he
felt it safe to go and everyone was perched along the rail trying to pick out something that
would indicate the recent lava flow.
Checking out the eruption
However, there was one absolutely unique feature that repeatedly drew our attention as we
passed back in forth in front of it and at first we thought that it might actually be an emerging
flow of fresh lava since the color and texture seemed to indicate as much. Curiously, what was
missing was the steam that we assumed must accompany such an event and as much as we
looked, we could not see even a wisp of smoke. Unfortunately, there were no geologists on
board so a more accurate identification of what this actually was will have to wait until we hear
back from some of the geologists to whom we have passed along the photographs of this most
perplexing feature.
79

Molten lava
Using the coordinates that we had been given by Godfrey and our best read of the coastline,
the dive teams decided on the location that they felt was most likely the site of the fresh lava
flow and headed out in the pangas with me tagging along for the ride. Over they went but
unlike previous dives where the teams would remain submerged for more than hour, they
surfaced very soon and I’ll let Stuart fill in the details as to why:
“With a large swell crashing against the cliffs a quick check with the handheld depth sounder
showed that the lava more than 2 months before had plunged straight off of the cliff carving it’s
path into deep water – bringing our dive very close to the shore. One of the first things we
noticed was a strange milky coloration in the water amid the normal deep blue that spread out
from that point on the coast for more than 200m in each direction. Entering the milky water
caught in the huge swell we headed down, yet could not see more than a meter in any direction.
People vanished from sight within seconds. Just 15ft down the little light piercing the cold water
rapidly disappeared leaving a claustrophobic inky blanket through which we could see nothing,
just relying upon our dive instruments. At 50ft the visibility was a little better — just enough to
see some large slabs covered in quick recruiting barnacles, a turbid mulch of volcanic ash and
rolling newly formed lava boulders loose in the powerful swell. Disorientated divers returned to
the surface, rapidly picked up by our zodiacs in the surface surfing the waves. Future months will
tell how the sea reclaims the new lava thrown into the ocean, yet on that morning, the lasting
aftermath of the magma was still very evident.”
80

Diving at the site of the fresh lava flow
The fact that we had the we knew exactly where to look was because of a latitude and
longitude that was written on a small sheet of paper and given to me by Godfrey Merlen who I
had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with before we set sail on the M/V Queen Mabel.
Godfrey has been in Galapagos for nearly forty years and has seen so many changes over that
time and unfortunately, many of them not all that positive. Godfrey believes so strongly in the
uniqueness of Galapagos and how crucial it is to protect these Islands for future generations
and he is one of those rare people who can articulate in words what he feels in his heart in a
way that not only can anyone understand but that is hard to refute.
81

Godfrey Merlen
An online biography of Godfrey gives some of the basics:
He is a permanent resident of Galapagos and lives in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Mr.
Merlen works closely with the Galapagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin
Research Station of which he is a general assembly member. He has published a number of
articles and several books on the biology and conservation of the islands. Primarily trained in
biology and farming, he has directed his attention to the marine environment and conservation
matters. He is also a licensed boat captain and carries out marine mammal research in
Ecuadorian waters.
While speaking with Godfrey I realized that he had so much to say that I wanted to be able to
pass along that I asked whether or not it would be alright if I videotaped our conversation.
Thirty minutes later I had a tape of some wonderful stories about Galapagos and thoughts
about its future. I hope to be able to make that interview available as part of this journal once I
return to the States. However, I did ask Godfrey to summarize the work that he is currently
involved with and here is what he wrote:
“In essence I am working at present on the reestablishment of the 1000km oceanic barrier that
existed previous to mans arrival. Without this barrier the future of the biodiversity of the
82

Galapagos archipelago is bleak since the arrival of introduced organisms, including diseases,
plants and animals (especially invertebrates) cause havoc in isolated oceanic islands. The work
involves a hands on approach requiring meetings at high levels of government to generate
dedicated support and legal frameworks, and the research and development of known
technologies that can act as modern isolation mechanisms. Through this process the
outstanding biological qualities of Galapagos will be preserved and future generations can
experience the enchantment of the islands as we do today.”
Godfrey was also kind enough to pass along a photograph showing him standing on the deck of
his little ship Ratty as the newly erupted lava flowed into the sea just behind him on that day in
April 2009 which clearly explains why he knew exactly where to send us. In case you may think
that Ratty is an odd name for a boat or that it refers to the condition of Godfrey’s vessel you’d
be wrong on both counts. The name comes from that classic 1909 children’s book by Kenneth
Graham entitled “The Wind in the Willows” which has one of the truest lines ever written,
“There is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as messing about in boats”
Godfrey Merlen aboard his little ship Ratty while Fernandina erupts behind him in April 2009.
83

9/9/2010 S.Banks
Addendum to Final CDF-CI Galapagos-MMAS Project Report
Attn: John Tschirky
Re: MMAS Galapagos Science to Action Component.
Date: 08 th Sept 2010.
Following your recent request, please find here an overview of the Galapagos Science to
Action (S2A) outreach package financed through the project spending extension to June
30 th 2010 and also details of our involvement in additional counterpart activities facilitated
by the MMAS Phase One synthesis beyond the original MMAS project timeframe.
“Business as usual” CDF outreach and technical accessory activities by MMAS funded
investigators over the project (within our mandate to provide scientific information for
GMR management) involved a range of short courses, presentations and involvement in
workshops and meetings with local students, naturalist guides, tourists, park rangers,
ministry representatives, fishermen and tourism operators. Specific consultations were
varied including participatory management advisory and technical accessory for the
Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) particularly as part of coastal zoning related task
groups (as part of the GNPS working group) between inhabited Islands and annual revision
of viability for local sea cucumber, fin fish and lobster fisheries.
Specifically the S2A outreach component of our MMAS work with CI-Galapagos and
independent contractor Testugo led to a package constructed around CDF and University
San Franscico Quito (USFQ) key science messages developed in the final technical report.
It also involved considerable consultation with our science group who also generated new
additional content. The objectives were (1) to deliver key S2A messages, (2) improve the
visibility of scientific accessory towards understanding Galapagos, (3) emphasize the role
of science in management and key role of local community members as long term GMR
stewards, (4) improve receptivity of stakeholders to sustainability criteria encouraging the
use of such information to responsibly conserve their biodiversity resource, support
managers rather than create unproductive confrontation etc. and yet retain or improve local
social capital and (5) create a S2A vehicle and identity for follow up campaigns in the
future.
The final outreach package is being publically launched in September 2010 locally in
Galapagos and includes a series of videos and documented interviews with stakeholders
from government representatives, scientists, guides to fishermen giving their perspective
concerning the usefulness of science for management, background documentation and
materials designed to help facilitate the next steps in management plan reform for the
GMR. The package itself has an interactive DVD designed by Testugo with input from CI
and CDF, a simplified pull out GMR map with important conservation features and is
accompanied by a series of radiospots, a local project slogan and logo to help ID the
Page 1 of 2

9/9/2010 S.Banks
campaign and coffee mugs with slogans to distribute to stakeholders. A press conference
will accompany the launch and CDF outreach and communication staff are working with
the CI-Testugo contractor passing info and launch event invitations to the media and
government ministers in Quito and Guayaquil. Follow up informal discussion events are
scheduled towards the end of the year with different user groups leading into structured
workshops for GMR management review into 2011.
The intention is that if successful over the next year, the MMAS outreach component could
develop into a recognized vehicle for applied science recommendations for decision makers
and perhaps more important – attack the MMA stewardship problem from a different angle.
Wider discussions between the science-conservation and local community encourages
consideration of base stakeholder perceptions as part of the problem solving process.
Facilitating and incorporating viewpoints through engaging materials and informal science
discussions improves grass-root appreciation of Galapagos sustainability problems, and
also provides a better sense for conservation project managers of alternative visions for the
Islands, possible misconceptions and synergies, consensus perceptions useful in orientating
follow up projects and critical “bottle neck” issues requiring practical solutions if we are to
approach GMR conservation goals.
At a more conceptual level we hope such steps are catalysts helping long term reform of
the multi-actor “Galapagos conservation conscience”. A complementary approach based
around engaging and empowering a broad base of individuals rather than just politicians,
improves congruence between directed science based recommendations and appropriation
of resulting management measures by GMR user groups. Improved information flow with
feedback from stakeholders before critical management meetings/ decisions can greatly
help to validate and reinforce the process, reduce confounding miscommunication, help
ratify new legislation and facilitate more productive negotiations. Ultimately there’s the
hope that appropriation of concepts and conservation measures by individuals will reduce
GMR infractions, increase political aperture towards appropriate distribution of benefits
and responsible development of local Galapagos industries, encourage proactive planning
and reduce species extinction risk through amelioration of unsustainable practice.
Prepared by:
Stuart Banks
PI: CDF-MMAS Galapagos Node.
Page 2 of 2

9/9/2010 S.Banks
Addendum to Final CDF-CI Galapagos-MMAS Project Report
Attn: John Tschirky
Re: MMAS Galapagos Science to Action Component.
Date: 08 th Sept 2010.
Following your recent request, please find here an overview of the Galapagos Science to
Action (S2A) outreach package financed through the project spending extension to June
30 th 2010 and also details of our involvement in additional counterpart activities facilitated
by the MMAS Phase One synthesis beyond the original MMAS project timeframe.
“Business as usual” CDF outreach and technical accessory activities by MMAS funded
investigators over the project (within our mandate to provide scientific information for
GMR management) involved a range of short courses, presentations and involvement in
workshops and meetings with local students, naturalist guides, tourists, park rangers,
ministry representatives, fishermen and tourism operators. Specific consultations were
varied including participatory management advisory and technical accessory for the
Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) particularly as part of coastal zoning related task
groups (as part of the GNPS working group) between inhabited Islands and annual revision
of viability for local sea cucumber, fin fish and lobster fisheries.
Specifically the S2A outreach component of our MMAS work with CI-Galapagos and
independent contractor Testugo led to a package constructed around CDF and University
San Franscico Quito (USFQ) key science messages developed in the final technical report.
It also involved considerable consultation with our science group who also generated new
additional content. The objectives were (1) to deliver key S2A messages, (2) improve the
visibility of scientific accessory towards understanding Galapagos, (3) emphasize the role
of science in management and key role of local community members as long term GMR
stewards, (4) improve receptivity of stakeholders to sustainability criteria encouraging the
use of such information to responsibly conserve their biodiversity resource, support
managers rather than create unproductive confrontation etc. and yet retain or improve local
social capital and (5) create a S2A vehicle and identity for follow up campaigns in the
future.
The final outreach package is being publically launched in September 2010 locally in
Galapagos and includes a series of videos and documented interviews with stakeholders
from government representatives, scientists, guides to fishermen giving their perspective
concerning the usefulness of science for management, background documentation and
materials designed to help facilitate the next steps in management plan reform for the
GMR. The package itself has an interactive DVD designed by Testugo with input from CI
and CDF, a simplified pull out GMR map with important conservation features and is
accompanied by a series of radiospots, a local project slogan and logo to help ID the
Page 1 of 2

9/9/2010 S.Banks
campaign and coffee mugs with slogans to distribute to stakeholders. A press conference
will accompany the launch and CDF outreach and communication staff are working with
the CI-Testugo contractor passing info and launch event invitations to the media and
government ministers in Quito and Guayaquil. Follow up informal discussion events are
scheduled towards the end of the year with different user groups leading into structured
workshops for GMR management review into 2011.
The intention is that if successful over the next year, the MMAS outreach component could
develop into a recognized vehicle for applied science recommendations for decision makers
and perhaps more important – attack the MMA stewardship problem from a different angle.
Wider discussions between the science-conservation and local community encourages
consideration of base stakeholder perceptions as part of the problem solving process.
Facilitating and incorporating viewpoints through engaging materials and informal science
discussions improves grass-root appreciation of Galapagos sustainability problems, and
also provides a better sense for conservation project managers of alternative visions for the
Islands, possible misconceptions and synergies, consensus perceptions useful in orientating
follow up projects and critical “bottle neck” issues requiring practical solutions if we are to
approach GMR conservation goals.
At a more conceptual level we hope such steps are catalysts helping long term reform of
the multi-actor “Galapagos conservation conscience”. A complementary approach based
around engaging and empowering a broad base of individuals rather than just politicians,
improves congruence between directed science based recommendations and appropriation
of resulting management measures by GMR user groups. Improved information flow with
feedback from stakeholders before critical management meetings/ decisions can greatly
help to validate and reinforce the process, reduce confounding miscommunication, help
ratify new legislation and facilitate more productive negotiations. Ultimately there’s the
hope that appropriation of concepts and conservation measures by individuals will reduce
GMR infractions, increase political aperture towards appropriate distribution of benefits
and responsible development of local Galapagos industries, encourage proactive planning
and reduce species extinction risk through amelioration of unsustainable practice.
Prepared by:
Stuart Banks
PI: CDF-MMAS Galapagos Node.
Page 2 of 2