The Non-Progress of Non-Progression: Two Responses to Lyell's Doctrine

1976 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Bartholomew
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Essential Point ◽  
The Real ◽  
History Of

‘Non-Progression’, the interpretation of life-history launched by Lyell in 1830 and defended by him for over twenty years, can be summarized as follows. Palaeontologists, Lyell contended, should assume that at every period of the earth's recoverable past, each class of plants and animals has been represented somewhere on earth. Species have been created solely as responses to perpetually shifting environmental conditions, and not as temporally conditioned stages in the unique unrolling of a grand plan. If certain environments are especially suited to reptiles, then the Creator tailors collections of beautifully adapted terrestrial, aquatic, and even aerial reptiles for them—as He did, for example, for the environments recorded in the British Jurassic; as He did, much more recently, for the Galapagos Islands; and as He will do again, if conditions somewhere on earth ever force mammals into extinction, leaving ecological niches which can more suitably be filled by reptiles. If, for example, changes in the topography and climate of the Sussex Weald eventually lead to the re-establishment of an environment that particularly suits iguanodons, then iguanodons will assuredly appear there again. The essential point about Lyell's interpretation is that time does nothing to determine a particular flora and fauna. When designing a new animal, the Creator, according to Lyell's view, has to take into account only the creature's or plant's destined environment: He has to consult no timetable, or lineage, governing the production of new forms. In notes for a speech given in 1852 Lyell reduced his interpretation to the epitome, ‘Adaptation to geographical circumst5 not progressive develop the real history of past changes’.

The Galápagos Islands: A History of Their Exploration

1960 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 417
Author(s):  
Richard H. Manville ◽  
Joseph Richard Slevin
Keyword(s):  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
History Of

scholarly journals Contrasting effects of climate change on seasonal survival of a hibernating mammal

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (30) ◽  
pp. 18119-18126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Line S. Cordes ◽  
Daniel T. Blumstein ◽  
Kenneth B. Armitage ◽  
Paul J. CaraDonna ◽  
Dylan Z. Childs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Life History ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Colorado Rocky Mountains

Seasonal environmental conditions shape the behavior and life history of virtually all organisms. Climate change is modifying these seasonal environmental conditions, which threatens to disrupt population dynamics. It is conceivable that climatic changes may be beneficial in one season but result in detrimental conditions in another because life-history strategies vary between these time periods. We analyzed the temporal trends in seasonal survival of yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer) and explored the environmental drivers using a 40-y dataset from the Colorado Rocky Mountains (USA). Trends in survival revealed divergent seasonal patterns, which were similar across age-classes. Marmot survival declined during winter but generally increased during summer. Interestingly, different environmental factors appeared to drive survival trends across age-classes. Winter survival was largely driven by conditions during the preceding summer and the effect of continued climate change was likely to be mainly negative, whereas the likely outcome of continued climate change on summer survival was generally positive. This study illustrates that seasonal demographic responses need disentangling to accurately forecast the impacts of climate change on animal population dynamics.

Cockroaches (Blattaria) of Ecuador—checklist and history of research

Zootaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3599 (5) ◽  
pp. 401-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
ĽUBOMÍR VIDLIČKA
Keyword(s):  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Research History ◽  
History Of Research ◽  
History Of

Cockroaches are an understudied group and the total number of described taxa increases every year. The last checklist of Ecuador species was published in 1926. The main aim of this study was to complete a new checklist of cockroach species recorded in Ecuador supplemented with a research history of cockroaches (Blattaria) on the territory of continental Ecuador. In addition, the checklist contains comments on Ecuadorian faunistic records, including the Galápagos Islands. A total of 114 species (105 in continental Ecuador and 18 in Galápagos Islands) belonging to 6 families and 44 genera are listed. Forty species (38.1 %) occur solely in continental Ecuador and five (27.8 %) are endemic on Galápagos Islands. The results indicate that further research on the cockroach fauna of Ecuador as well as determination of museum collections from this territory is needed

STUDIES ON STRONGYLOIDES OF PRIMATES: V. SYNONYMY OF THE SPECIES IN MONKEYS AND APES

1959 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Premvati
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
New World ◽  
Comparative Morphology ◽  
New World Primates ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Old World ◽  
History Of

A study of the comparative morphology and life history of S. fülleborni, S. cebus, and S. simiae in both the parasitic and free-living generations under different environmental conditions, and their comparison with the free-living stages from faeces of Old World and New World primates has led to the conclusion that the three species should be synonymized into one, for which the name Strongyloides fülleborni von Linstow (1905) has priority.

scholarly journals Psidium guajava in the Galapagos Islands: population genetics and history of an invasive species

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Urquía ◽  
Bernardo Gutiérrez ◽  
Gabriela Pozo ◽  
María José Pozo ◽  
Analía Espín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Psidium Guajava ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Historical Record ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Galapagos Archipelago ◽  
History Of

AbstractThe threat of invasive plant species in island populations prompts the need to better understand their population genetics and dynamics. In the Galapagos islands, this is exemplified by the introduced guava (Psidium guajava), considered one of the greatest threats to the local biodiversity due to its effective spread in the archipelago and its ability to outcompete endemic species. To better understand its history and genetics, we analyzed individuals from three inhabited islands in the Galapagos archipelago with 11 SSR markers. Our results reveal similar genetic diversity between islands, suggestive of gene flow between them. Populations appear to be distinct between the islands of San Cristobal and Isabela, with the population of Santa Cruz being composed as a mixture from both. Additional evidence for genetic bottlenecks and the inference of introduction events suggests an original introduction of the species in San Cristobal, from where it was later introduced to Isabela, and finally into Santa Cruz. Alternatively, an independent introduction event for Isabela is also possible. These results are contrasted with the historical record, providing a first overview of the history of P. guajava in the Galapagos islands and its current population dynamics.

scholarly journals Non-native small terrestrial vertebrates in the Galapagos

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego F Cisneros-Heredia
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Tree Frog ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Species Introduction ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽  
History Of

Humans have translocated thousands of species of flora, fauna and microorganisms to places they would never have reached on their own. Non-native species may have effects on biological communities, ecosystem functions and human populations. In island environments, the effects of spreading non-native species on native biodiversity can be severe and lead to native ecosystem transformation and even endemic species extinction. The Galapagos Islands are a region of particular interest and relevance to the issue of species introduction and invasiveness. In this paper, I analyse the current status of 25 non-native amphibians, reptiles and birds that have been reported in the Galapagos Islands. Six species have established self-sufficiently in Galapagos and may become invasive: Fowler’s snouted tree frog Scinax quinquefasciatus, common house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus, mourning gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris, dwarf gecko Gonatodes caudiscutatus, Peters’ leaf-toed gecko Phyllodactylus reissii, and smooth-billed ani Crotophaga ani. Domestic fowl Gallus gallus holds feral populations, which may have self-sufficient populations, but evidence is unclear. I provide information on the distribution and natural history of non-native species of amphibians, reptiles and birds in Galapagos, including new data about the introduction history of S. quinquefasciatus; evidence on the establishment of H. frenatus on Isabela and San Cristobal islands; the first published record of a non-native snake in Galapagos, Lampropeltis micropholis; the first evidence of predation on squamate reptiles by G. gallus in Galapagos; and evidence of a probable major impact by C. ani due to extensive predation on the endemic Galapagos carpenter bee Xylocopa darwini. I comment on the invasiveness and impact potential of non-native species in Galapagos, identify vulnerable islands for the arrival of non-native species, identify potential hitchhiker that could arrive in the future and propose that it is important to rethink about how we understand, manage and prevent introductions of non-native species. The new wave of introduced species in Galapagos is formed by small hitchhikers, species that are easily overlooked, may travel in high numbers and are highly linked to human-made environments.

scholarly journals Origin and dispersion pathways of guava in the Galapagos Islands inferred through genetics and historical records

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Urquia ◽  
Bernardo Gutierrez ◽  
Gabriela Pozo ◽  
Maria Pozo ◽  
Maria Torres
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Psidium Guajava ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Genetic Distances ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Introduction History ◽  
Galapagos Archipelago ◽  
History Of

Guava (Psidium guajava) is one of the most aggressive invasive plants in the Galapagos Islands. Determining its provenance and genetic diversity could provide valuable information for its control. With this purpose, we analyzed 11 SSR markers in guava individuals collected from Isabela, Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Floreana islands in the Galapagos, as well as from mainland Ecuador. The mainland guava population appeared genetically differentiated from the Galapagos populations, with higher genetic diversity levels found in the former. By using different approaches for data analysis, we consistently found that the Central Highlands region of mainland Ecuador is one of the most likely origins of the Galapagos populations. Moreover, the guavas from Isabela and Floreana show a potential genetic input from southern mainland Ecuador, while the population from San Cristobal would be linked to the coastal mainland regions. Interestingly, the proposed origins for the Galapagos guava coincide with the first human settlings of the archipelago. By employing Approximate Bayesian Computation, we propose a model where San Cristobal was the first island to be colonized by guava from the mainland, from which it would have spread to Floreana and finally to Santa Cruz; Isabela would have been seeded from Floreana. An independent trajectory could also have contributed in the invasion of Floreana and Isabela. The pathway shown in our model agrees with the human colonization history of the different islands in the Galapagos. Our model, in conjunction with the clustering patterns of the guava individuals (based on genetic distances), suggests that guava introduction history in the Galapagos archipelago was driven predominantly by a single event (or events in rapid succession) instead of several independent introductions. We thus show that genetic analyses supported by historical sources can be used to answer questions on the variability and history of guava in the Galapagos Islands.

scholarly journals Evidence of cannibalism in a population of western Galápagos racers Pseudalsophis occidentalis (Serpentes: Colubridae)

2021 ◽  
pp. 6-11
Author(s):  
LUIS ORTIZ-CATEDRAL
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Trophic Interactions ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Galapagos Archipelago ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
History Of ◽  
Common Behaviour ◽  
Prey Items

Cannibalism is a common behaviour among snakes, but it has not yet been verified for any of the nine species of Galápagos racer (Pseudalsophis spp.), a group endemic to the Galápagos archipelago, Ecuador. Galápagos racers are opportunistic generalists feeding on a variety of vertebrate prey. There are a few anecdotal and suspected attempts of cannibalism among Galápagos racers, but it is unclear whether this behaviour occurs and if so, how frequent it is. We analysed 61 faecal samples from western Galápagos racers (Pseudalsophis occidentalis). In addition to the remains of well known prey items such as lizards, we found snake teeth and skin fragments in 11 samples. Combined with previous observations of attempted cannibalism between western Galápagos racers, our results represent evidence that this species consumes other racers as prey. Our study contributes to a growing knowledge of the natural history of Galápagos racers and highlights the role of these reptiles in complex trophic interactions in the Galápagos islands.

scholarly journals Behavior of the Avian Parasite Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) in and Near Host Nests in the Galapagos Islands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney L. Pike ◽  
Ismael E. Ramirez ◽  
David J. Anchundia ◽  
Birgit Fessl ◽  
George E. Heimpel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Mating Behavior ◽  
Galapagos Islands ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Galápagos Islands ◽  
Nest Cavity ◽  
Philornis Downsi ◽  
And Control

AbstractThe Avian Vampire Fly, Philornis downsi, has invaded the Galapagos Islands, where it causes high mortality of endemic and native landbird species, including most species of Darwin’s finches. Control methods are under development, but key information is missing about the reproductive biology of P. downsi and the behavior of flies in and near nests of their hosts. We used external and internal nest cameras to record the behavior of P. downsi adults within and outside nests of the Galapagos Flycatcher, Myiarchus magnirostris, throughout all stages of the nesting cycle. These recordings showed that P. downsi visited flycatcher nests throughout the day with higher fly activity during the nestling phase during vespertine hours. The observations also revealed that multiple P. downsi individuals can visit nests concurrently, and that there are some interactions among these flies within the nest. Fly visitation to nests occurred significantly more often while parent birds were away from the nest than in the nest, and this timing appears to be a strategy to avoid predation by parent birds. We report fly mating behavior outside the nest but not in the nest cavity. We discuss the relevance of these findings for the adaptive forces shaping P. downsi life history strategies as well as rearing and control measures.

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