By Zoila Palma: Scientists in Ecuador are raising concerns over the potential impact of a stronger-than-normal El Niño on the unique wildlife and ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands.
The Pacific climate phenomenon is expected to bring significantly warmer waters and intense rainfall, threatening species found nowhere else on Earth.
According to the latest projection from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sea temperatures in the region could reach about 2.2 degrees Celsius above normal, a level considered a very strong El Niño.
Scientists warn that the warmer waters could cause plankton, algae and smaller fish to decline, disrupting the food chain and placing marine species at serious risk.
Among the animals considered most vulnerable are Galápagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, petrels, flightless cormorants, albatrosses and sea lions, while coral colonies and tuna fisheries could also be affected.
Scientists say food shortages can cause animal colonies to stop reproducing, disperse in search of food and, in some cases, die from starvation. The vertebrate population of the archipelago could decline by at least 20% if the phenomenon reaches its projected intensity.
The Galápagos penguin is being closely monitored as an indicator of El Niño’s impact.
Following the powerful 1998 El Niño, the penguin population reportedly fell from about 1,300 to just 400. Scientists are also concerned about the islands’ remaining Scalesia forests and coastal Opuntia cacti, which could be overwhelmed by heavy rainfall and invasive plants.
Conservation groups, the Ecuadorian government and nongovernmental organizations are preparing measures to protect vulnerable ecosystems, including removing invasive species, collecting seeds and establishing nurseries for threatened plants.
The post International News: Stronger El Niño raises alarm for Galápagos wildlife and forests appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Scientists in Ecuador are raising concerns over the potential impact of a stronger-than-normal El Niño on the unique wildlife and ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands. The Pacific climate phenomenon is expected to bring significantly warmer waters and intense rainfall, threatening species found nowhere else on Earth. According to the latest projection from
The post International News: Stronger El Niño raises alarm for Galápagos wildlife and forests appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.