Plants of the Galápagos Vegetation Zones. Galapagos Flora. Plants are the basis of all life within the Galapagos Islands. Still, many first-time visitors are surprised by the arid, almost lunar landscape that greets them as they step off of the plane. In addition to native plant life, there are around 825 introduced plant species. The Galapagos is home to over 9,000 species. Galapagos Islands Wildlife Many theories exist regarding the unique nature of the flora and fauna on the Galapagos islands. Noté /5. Native Plants. 7 genera of Galapagos plants are unique to these islands, and there are 600 endemic species of vascular plants. These are all recorded in the datazone produced by the Charles Darwin Foundation.. Retrouvez Flowering Plants of the Galapagos et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. The list is always growing – despite scientists studying the wildlife on and around Galapagos for three centuries; new species are still being discovered every year. This is a notably high rate of endemicity.
A popularly held belief is that the original species that evolved into the unique Galapagos variety found their way to the islands on flotation rafts of vegetation and other waste and were carried to the island via wind and sea currents. To date, the Islands are believed to be home to more than 600 native species of vascular plants and approximately 825 introduced species, the majority introduced by humans. Park officials, scientists and concerned citizens of the Galapagos Islands have spent fifty years battling these species, usually without much in terms of results. Even though plants are the energy sources for the world, they are often overlooked for more charismatic fauna. Three introduced plant species have been eradicated. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion Ask any Galapagos Islands naturalist, scientist or park ranger what the biggest problem facing the islands is, and he or she will likely tell you that it’s the threat posed to local wildlife by invasive species. But what I found on my trip to the Galápagos was a long list of plants that do some really interesting things. Much like the people who came to live in the Galápagos, the plants that found a home in the islands had to be hardy types. Many of the plant species found in the Galapagos Islands are as interesting and unique as the islands’ renowned animal life.
These rugged, plant “pioneers” crossed oceans to get here — carried as seeds by birds (about 60 percent), by wind (about 31 percent), or by rafting in (about 9 percent). The Galápagos Islands are famous for their amazing geological history and animal life, but little is ever said about their plants.