In Darwin's Footsteps : Surveying, Documenting, and Preserving Biodiversity in the Galapagos Islands

Abstract

Charles Darwin remarked that its natural history is "eminently curious, and well deserves attention." Since its discovery by a wayward Spanish bishop in 1535, the biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands has piqued the curiosity of sightseers and scientists alike. However, in spite of its importance in the history of science and its mention in nearly every general biology textbook, much is still unknown about the biodiversity of the Galapagos. This study involved working with the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) in the areas of botany, vertebrate zoology, and entomology to improve the natural history collections and make data more accessible to the international scientific community.