Download A trip to the ecologically biodiverse oceanic island of Tenerife

A trip to the ecologically biodiverse oceanic island of Tenerife, funded by the Santander
Travel Fund.
Having been awarded £600, I was able to fund the 6-day educational biology field course to
Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands of Spain, where I was exposed to one of the most
biologically diverse hotspots worlds. Travelling with some of the top botanist professors of the
world from the Oxford Biological Sciences Department, I was able to further my understanding
of the aspects of evolutionary diversification, biogeography and patterns of endemism.
Tenerife has a distinct orography, with the highest
elevation of the islands in the Atlantic ocean and
housing the 3rd largest volcano in the world (Teide),
leading to a remarkable extent of biological
heterogeneity. We were able to view this directly,
being able to study the evolutionary adaptations to the
wealth of microclimates (ecological and habitual
settings) that gives rise to the largest number of
endemic species in Europe, a consequence to these
unique environmental. We travel around all sides of
the oceanic island, experiencing the switch from
semi-jungle to semi-desert. This change in the climate
controlled through the exposure of the densely humid
northeast tradewinds and the dry southern current is
moderating the temperature. These winds bring in the
‘Sea of Clouds’, which roll in engulfing the forest zone
of the island. In this region includes ancient
thermophilous woodland, Laurel forest and
commercial Pine forest. When visiting the flat
xerophytic zone, experienced coastal sub-desert
scrub, dominated by the highly adapted succulents
and sclerophyllous shrubs. Using my trusty hand lens
(which I refused to part with at the end of the trip), I
got to see up close the adaptations these organisms
have protected themselves with, being careful with the
euphorbias due to their irritant and potentially blinking
latex. The high mountainous subalpine zone found
summit scrub, dominated by a few species of
Fabaceae shrubs, however on the highest slopes of
Teide only found the endemic and highly specialised
Viola cheiranthifolia. We walked around the top of
Teide, and while dealing with the little oxygen and
strong sulphur, were able to view the three shield
volcanos (flattened islands) which were joined by
Teide to produce the triangle island of Tenerife, and
the fresh lava gouges, leaving strips of uncolonized
barren rock.
With the help of professors and lecturers, I was able to
learn vast depths of knowledge on the formation and
current state of this oceanic islands. Including the huge
anthropogenic impacts from the growing tourism
industry and threats such as invasive species
endanger the island’s ecology. Interesting there was a
massive increase in agricultural uses of land,
specifically bananas, Tenerife being a major exporter
of this fruit. We saw the vast development of the
majority of the island and got to visit some of the few
spots of the island untouched by anthropogenic effects.
Introduced to Tenerife university’s best biologists,
spend every day out in the field experiencing a new
and exotic ecosystem and climate (Tenerife had so
many!), I learnt how to identify some of the 1,613
vascular plant species present on the island. Visiting
the botanical islands, I was bowled over the collection
there, and the largest Ficus tree of Europe, enormous
aerial roots descending like multiple trunks.
I was able to fulfil my aims of exploration and study of
the biological variety, gaining an abundance of
knowledge from the observation of current and
ever-changing natural situation of this Mediterranean
island. With the increasing population, climate change
and the constant tectonic movement of continental
drift, the present biodiversity and biological conditions
of the island is not going to stay the same. I got to see
a snapshot of the precious ecosystems only in
existence in Tenerife before further damage and
change ensues. Oceanic islands have a life cycle, and I got to see Tenerife at its peak.
Thank you so much for your support and generosity. You made this possible for me, and I am
so grateful for all the experiences and biological knowledge I have gained from this trip.
Thank you.