THE GALAPAGOS IN A BOX EXHIBITTEACHER’S GUIDE

Galápagos, Ecuador - 2016

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for your purchase of the GALAPAGOS IN A BOX. The objective of this box is to bring a

vivid experience of the Galapagos Archipelago to children, parents, teachers and all visitors to the

exhibit; the Galapagos islands comes to you, and your school and your community. The

Galápagos Exhibit contains several learning aids for a complete Galápagos experience.

The Galapagos in a Box is a standalone exhibit with attractive didactic material of key learning

topics about The Galápagos Islands. The purpose of the exhibit is to raise awareness of the

importance of conservation and protection of the biodiversity and uniqueness of it’s flora and

fauna, as visitors discover the particular characteristics of the Galápagos Archipelago.

Here are some guidelines on how to make the most of the various features of this product.

Students will study subjects such as: Geology, Geography, Oceanography and Climate, Biology,

Evolution and Conservation, amongst others as they become inmersed in the Galapagos in The

Box Exhibit.

The Exhibit consists of 9 sections, easy to assemble and display. This guide will suggest

alternative uses of the enclosed materials to involve students in the main topics stimulating

research and class discussions. This guide will provide complementary information, tips and

support for an exciting experience of the Galapagos in your community.

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GUIDE CONTENT A. Uses of the Galapagos in a Box Exhibit

B. Galapagos in a Box Materials

C. Exhibit Benefits

D. Assemble the exhibit and sections

E. The Galapagos Archipelago and its Importance

F. Exhibit elements and content

G. Resource table

H. Knowledge Checklist

I. References

J. Learning Opportunities

K. How to contribute

L. Collaborators

A. USES OF THE GALAPAGOS EXHIBIT

The Galápagos Exhibit is a highly visual product built with incredible photographs by naturalists,

Jonathan R. Green, Fabián Borrero, Roberto Espinos and Michel Guerrero. It consists of a

compilation of scientific information of key topics using videos, paintings, underwater sounds,

specialized books and other research resources, targeted to the general public and more

specifically to schools and communities with high academic expectations.

The exhibit will present the unique features of the Galapagos Islands, an Archipelago located in the

Pacific Ocean and owned by Ecuador, one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world. The

contents of the exhibit maintain high quality standards through superb photography, printing and

laminated finish, ensuring that the materials may be reused.

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The Galapagos Exhibit can be used in several ways:

1. As a Guided Tour: as an attraction in School or community events such as science fairs,

parent – student events, biology club event, Earth Day, concerts, sports events; permanent

exhibition in the library, hall or lunch area. The tour would be hosted by teachers or Nature Club

Members.

2. In the class room: Individual sections will be located temporarily in each class room, where

students will have more time to carry out internet research and specific activities for in depth

knowledge of each topic.

3. GALAPAGOS WEEK: locate the Exhibit in an assigned room or area and coordinate a

guided tour with different classes at designated times during the week.

4. Galápagos Exhibit hosted by Students. : locate the exhibit in a designated room or at the

School´s Gymnasium or Main lobby, where Students can prepare and host one of the 9 sections

and serve as Galapagos Exhibit Tour Guides for parents and other visitors.

5. Science Research Guide: All the GALAPAGOS IN A BOX material is a source of knowledge

about Natural Sciences and Evolution.

The Galapagos Exhibit requires teachers´ guidance; however, the easy to follow instructions allow

students to become more involved in the presentation becoming guides and complimenting the

printed materials with additional information and relevant comments.

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B. GALAPAGOS IN A BOX MATERIALS

The GALAPAGOS BOX will arrive, via courier, in two 40 pound boxes that contain the complete

exhibit materials.

The package includes:

• 1 Teacher´s Guide.

• 9 full color spider roll up laminated photography posters, 80 cm. by 200 cm. that include an easy

to assemble self standing structure. The sections are:

1. Geology

2. Geography

3. Oceanography and Climate

4. Human History

5. Arrival and Establishment of Organisms,

6. Marine ecosystems

7. Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

8. Conservation. The Galapagos National Park

9. Conservation. Galapagos Marine Reserve

• 2 floor Turtles hopschotch

• 180 activity sheets in 9 categories

• 20 honor diplomas

• 100 Galapagos in a Box pins

• 200 Galapagos in a Box stickers

• 1 WELCOME TO THE GALAPAGOS banner 200 cm x 60 cm. Personalized with school logo.

• 30 Exhibit promotional posters (A3)

• 500 Exhibit promotional flyers (A5)

• 12 Tour Guide Identification tags.

• 12 Caps

• CD Rom with digital material for reprints of: activity sheets, posters, flyers, diplomas

• Resource Table Materials

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You will receive all materials needed to assamble the display, promote and present an

unforgettable Galapagos experience.

Additional materials may be added by posting an order on our web page.

C. EXHIBIT BENEFITS

• Didactic material designed for children, and adolescents k5 - k12, and the general public.

• Increased awareness of the importance of conservation of nature, worldwide.

• Encorage alternative and creative uses of the material as educational aides.

• Promote interest in research of important global issues.

• Integrate students through activities such as discussion topics, activity sheets and student

evaluations.

• Utilize content of the exhibit for completion of school curricula.

• Due to the top quality of product it will allow the reuse, or to keep it as a permanent school

decoration.

• Easy to assemble material.

D. ASSEMBLY

The minimum area required to comfortably display the materials in one room should be an open

space of 60 m2. (12m. x 5m). The number of visitors at a time will be the main factor to

determine the total area needed. If space is not available in a single room, the Galapagos In A Box

exhibit can be displayed in two or more rooms depending on the strategy to be applied and space

availability since all sections are modular.

The Galapagos in a Box provides easy storage for future use.

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Each roll up banner comes with a self-standing structure in its own storage bag.

The video may me projected in a designated area or it can be adapted to any TV –DVD. The high

quality Galapagos documentary is included and it presents the secrets of evolution.

A medium size table will also be required to place resource materials such as activity sheets for

quizzes, photography books, research books, tourism guides, etc.

E. THE GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO AND ITS IMPORTANCE

To understand about the fact that the Galapagos Archipelago is a natural laboratory of Evolution

is a key factor in this learning experience, as it creates consciousness on the fragility of Islands

Ecosystems and how the conservation of our world’s Natural Resources is everyone´s

responsibility.

FACTS. • These Islands are a land and marine national park located right at the Equator.

• The 97% of the total area is a national Park, the other 3% are 5 inhabited Islands.,

the smallest of which is a military base.

• It is unique in its characteristics and species therefore it has World’s importance.

• It is one of the best dive sites in the world, due to its diversity and abundance of

big open water species, such as whale shark, big schools of hammerhead sharks

and whales.

• They are the only islands where animals are not afraid of humans, due to the lack

of land predators, making it a special place to visit by nature lovers and scientists.

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Volcanic Islands.Hot spots.Oceanic crust. Carnegie ridge. Galapagos spreadingcenter. Tectonic plates:Nazca, Coco, Pacificplates. Shield volcanoes. Magma.

1.2.3.4.5.

6.

7.8.

KEY CONCEPTS

Geology

• The Galapagos seamounts may have emerged over 15 million years ago and the present islands have been in existence for about 3 – 5 million years. The youngest island, Fernandina, approximately 500.000 years old, is located further west.

• The islands are part of the Galapagos platform, which is separated from the Carnegie Ridge, both of them located on the Nazca plate, which moves west to east.

• The Galapagos spreading center, which is the separation of three tectonic plates, the Nazca plate, the Cocos plate and Pacific plate, lies north of the Galapagos platform. The Archipelago has its shape due to the irregular movement of the Nazca plate, which moves west to east, with a push south and south east from the Cocos and the Pacific plate.

• As the plate moves to the east, new islands are formed at the east, as magma reaches the surface of the oceanic crust due to an active hot spot. Those Islands further east are going through morphological decline and weathering, eventually disappearing below the surface of the sea.

• The volcanoes in Galapagos are called “shield volcanoes” due to their low lying, broad based, “Chinese hat” appearance.

Marine CurrentsI• The southern Humboldt Current is pushed towards the Equator by the South East trade winds. It maintains its cold temperatures even when it arrives to the tropics because of the upwelling at the deep Peruvian Trench, located along the western South American coast. It carries cold and productive waters.

• The northern current of El Niño, also known as the Panama flow, is pushed by the North East trade wind. It comes from the Central America region and carries warm, low in nutrients water.

• The submarine countercurrent of the Cromwell flows from west to east. It originates in the West Pacific and is located at an average depth of 100 meters, it is the cause of the upwelling in the western side of the Galapagos and it brings rich, high in nutrients productive waters from the deep.

• There are two other very important currents that flow around the Galapagos Islands, the south Equatorial Current and the North Equatorial current. They are strongest depending on the season as they are also influenced by the force of the trade winds.

• The ITCZ (Inter-tropical Convergence Zone) is normally located north of the Equator during the Cold Garua Season (Misty Season), and south of the Equator during the Hot Rainy Season.

ClimateThe Galapagos are the only tropical islands with two well defined seasons.

- Hot and Rainy Season from December to May: when warm waters and hot tropical sun occurs causing heavy evaporation that forms cumulus clouds which precipitate as heavy rain.

- Cold and Dry Season from June to November: when there are cold waters, cold winds, and tropical air above creating inversion layers that form fog and mist. Most of the precipitation occurs in the highlands.

KEY CONCEPTS

1. Humboldt Current2. El Niño Current or Panama Flow3. Undercurrent 4. Upwelling5. Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)6. Evaporation7. Precipitation 8. Hot Season9. Cold Season

OCEANOGRAPHYAND CLIMATE

KEY CONCEPTS

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.

FloraFaunaReptilesBirdsInsectsScalesia ForestTerrestrial MammalsPollinating agents

Arrival andestablishmentof organisms

• A wide array of animals and plants have established in the Galapagos originating from at least three different areas of the world.

• The main group able to travel and survive a journey of 2 to 3 weeks floating on oceanic rafts, coming from the mainland, were reptiles.

• Birds and insects were blown by the wind; they arrived by accident and either adapted to their new habitat or perished.

• Typical of other island ecosystems, there are very few terrestrial mammals, especially land predators. Reason why the Galapagos fauna is not afraid of people.

• Plants could have arrived naturally by floating, by wind, attached to the feathers or the feet of birds, or inside bird stomachs.

• The Galapagos flora is disharmonious from that flora in the mainland. There is little diversity and not many colors. Most plant species have yellow or white flowers.

• Some plant groups found empty niches and through adaptations and natural selection developed specific characteristics that allowed them to survive and colonize. An example is the Scalesia pedunculata, which is a compositae, a daisy like plant that has developed to be a tree in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.

• The pollinating agents are very important for plant adaptations, if the right agent is not present, some species like orchids could not survive.

• In the Galapagos the carpenter bee, and some butterflies species are the best pollinators.

BIOLOGY

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F. EXHIBIT ELEMENTS AND CONTENT

This section will focus on the following topics:

1. Geology

2. Geography

3. Oceanography and Climate

4. Human History

5. Arrival and Establishment of Organisms,

6. Marine ecosystems

7. Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

8. Conservation: The Galapagos National Park

9. Conservation: Galapagos Marine Reserve

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6. MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

Due to its location the marine life in the

Galapagos includes species form the

Indopacific, the Peruvian and Chilean zone,

Baja California and the Panama region.

Because fo the huge fluctuation of ocean

temperatures, from 16 C to 28 C, the reef

forming corals are not as abundant as one will

expect in the tropics. Even though the

conditions are right, the cold temperatures are

not appropriate for their growth and

development. Only the most northern islands

have coral growth forming a fringing reef.

On the other hand because there are so many

upwelling near the shore of the different

islands, there is high productivity and a wide

range of distribution of many benthic marine

organisms, such as sponges, soft corals,

echinoderms, mollusks and crustaceans,

therefore the rock walls and rock reefs have

abundance and diversity of life.

The Galapagos marine ecosystems are also

unique in the sense that here you can find

Galapagos Penguins, Waved Albatrosses and

Fur Seals, that originated in the South, and sea

lions in the North. Moreover, one can find

mangroves, frigate-birds and flamingos from

the Caribbean region.

• The different Ocean currents that flow around the Galapagos Archipelago are responsible for the presence of species from different parts of the World. For example, the ancestors for the Galapagos penguin and the Galapagos fur seal came from the Antarctic; the sea lions, the frigate birds and the red footed boobies arrived from the north, from California and Central America; many marine species came from the Indo-pacific such as whale sharks and Moorish idols. • The huge fluctuation of ocean temperatures limit the growth of reef forming corals, only in the most northern islands there is representative coral growth.

• Mangrove lagoons are marine ecosystems known as nurseries for many different species of marine invertebrates such as crustaceans and mollusks. Some vertebrate species also find mangrove lagoons as a refugee, especially small sharks. Mangrove lagoons are also a resting and feeding ground for sea turtles.

• Sea birds nest on land but feed in the ocean, therefore they are part of the marine environment as much as rays, fish, sharks, sea lions, etc.

• In the Galapagos there is one species of nocturnal gull, the swallow-tailed gull, it feeds on squid and flying fish, mainly at night. The flightless cormorant is also a very interesting sea bird that in the Galapagos evolved to become excellent swimmers in order to find their food.

• Most marine species found in the Galapagos have arrived from the neighboring American continent especially from the Chilean / Peruvian zone.

• Upwellings bring nutrients to the surface and therefore in some parts of the archipelago there is an abundance of plankton, which is the primary food source for many other species of marine organisms, from small fish to whales.

Marineecosystem

EcosystemsCrustaceansCoral reefsInvertebratesPlanktonMangroves

1.2.3.4.5.6.

KEY CONCEPTS

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Another very interesting factor of the Galapagos marine ecosystems is the type and variety as well

as it’s morphology. Some are vertical cliff walls, while others are remains of eroded tuff cones that

drop to the deep in gentle slopes both rocky or sandy substrates.

This morphology creates many different habitats for marine invertebrates, as well as reef fish.

The Galapagos is also known for the abundance of big fish, especially sharks. Not so many

species, but lots of those that are present. During the months from June to November whale

sharks are also commonly seen in the Archipelago waters. It is believed that they may come to

give birth as the most commonly spotted are pregnant females.

The most representative Marine species are:Whale Shark, Rhincodon typus

Galapagos Sea lion, Zalophus galapagensis

Galapagos Fur seal, Arctocephalus galapagoensis

Waved Albatross, Phoebastria irrorata

Galapagos penguin. Spheniscus mendiculus

Flightless cormorant. Nannopterum harrisi

Greater flamingo. Phoenicopterus ruber ruber

Swallow tailed gull. Creagrus furcatus

Blue footed boobie. Sula nebouxii

Nazca booby. Sula granti

Red footed booby. Sula sula

Yellow crowned night heron. Nyctanassa violacea

Red-billed tropicbird. Phaethon aethreus

Brown Pelican. Pelicanus occidentalis

American Oysercatcher. Haematopus palliates

Sally Lightfoot crab. Grapsus grapsus

Hammerhead Shark, Sphyrna lewini

Pacific Green Sea Turtle. Chelonia mydas agassisi

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Galapagos Shark, Carcharhinus galapagensis

Marine iguanas, Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Golden or Pacific Seahorse, Hippocampus ingens

Mosaic Moray eel, Enchelycore lichenosa

Red Scorpion Fish, Pontinus Sp.

Orange Cup Coral, Tubastrea coccinea

Black Coral, Antipathes galapagoensis

Concentric Puffer Fish, Sphoeroides annulatus

Moorish Idols, Zanclus cornuctus

Red lipped batfish, Ogcocephalus darwini

White banded angelfish, Holacanthus passer

White tipped reef shark, Trianodon obesus

Spotted-eagle ray, Aetobatus narinari

Manta Ray, Manta hamilton

DISCUSSION TOPICS • Discuss the reasons behind the marine biodiversity of the Galapagos Marine Life.

• How many bio geographical zones are in the Galapagos and why?

• Which are the endemic most represented marine species in the Galapagos?

KEY CONCEPTS • Ecosystems

• Crustaceans

• Coral reefs

• Invertebrates

• Plankton

• Mangroves

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