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Galapagos Island Project
Name:
Introduction
It is almost impossible to study evolution
without Darwin’s voyage to the Galapagos
Islands being mentioned. The Galapagos
Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands
distributed on either side of the Equator in
the Pacific Ocean, 500 miles west of
continental Ecuador – of which they are a
part.
The Galapagos Islands had no original
inhabitants. They were discovered in 1535 by
Tomas de Berlanga, the Spanish Bishop of
Panama, when his ship drifted by the islands.
The islands became famous around the world
after the survey ship HMS Beagle, arrived in
the Galapagos on September 15, 1835. On
board was a young naturalist named Charles
Darwin.
Darwin's subsequent studies of local wildlife
noted that almost all of the animals and
plants here were endemic to the islands, which of course contributed to his famous theory of natural
selection, and put these special islands on the map for the rest of the world to experience.
The Galapagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a
biological marine reserve. The principal language on the islands is Spanish. The islands have a population
of slightly over 25,000.
Islands
The Galapagos group consists of 13 main islands, 3 smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets. We will be
focusing on the 13 main islands listed below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Baltra (South Seymour) Island
Española (Hood) Island
Fernandina (Narborough) Island
Floreana (Charles or Santa María) Island
Genovesa (Tower) Island
Isabela (Albemarle) Island (Ecuador)
Marchena (Bindloe) Island
Pinzón (Duncan) Island
Pinta (Abingdon) Island
San Cristóbal (Chatham) Island
Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) Island (Galápagos)
Santa Fé (Barrington) Island
Santiago (San Salvador, James) Island (Galápagos)
Your Task
You will be assigned 1 of the 13 main islands of the Galapagos. Your task is to create a poster/PowerPoint
and class presentation about your assigned island. You may work by yourself or with 1-2 classmates. The
main objective of this presentation is for you to gain a greater understanding of the natural selection and
evolution of two particular species on your island. Your presentation is required to be 3-4 minutes in
length. Your poster/PPT and presentation should include the required information to present to the
class:
Content to Include
Notes
Points Worth
Name and picture of your island
1
How your island got its name
1
Size of island
1
Population
1
Geographical and ecological features
6
(for example: ponds, lakes, streams, volcanic rock, etc.)
Interesting facts about the island
4
(2 minimum)
2 detailed accounts and comparisons of
native species and their evolution with
pictures!
26
Grading
This project is worth 75 summative points. The grading breakdown is as followed:
Item
3 – 4 minute presentation
 Understanding of content (4 points)
 Quality of presentation (4 points)
 Each group member’s contribution to
presentation (4 points)
 Length of presentation (4 points)
Poster/PowerPoint
 Completion (14 points)
 Organization (5 points)
Points Possible
16
19
Inclusion of required content (see above chart)
39
TOTAL
75
Resources:
Class website
schwablhs.weebly.com
click “Resources”
I have compiled a list of various websites that will help you with this project, but feel free to utilize
trustworthy resources that you find on your own!
Books
Utilize our awesome library! The Lafayette librarians are some of the most helpful people around!
Class Work and Research Days
Friday 3/10, Tuesday 3/14, Thursday 3/16
Due Date
Thursday, March 23rd