Galápagos Marine Reserve — Deep-Sea Conservation & Seamount Research
Client
Charles Darwin Foundation
Region
Galápagos Marine Reserve, Ecuador
Year
2017 – 2018
Areas
Deep-Sea Conservation, Seamount Ecosystems, Marine Research, Biodiversity Monitoring, Ecosystem Services
Short Summary
Coordination of deep-sea and seamount conservation activities within the Galápagos Marine Reserve, supporting research, ecosystem assessment and marine conservation initiatives focused on deep-water habitats and biodiversity.
The project contributed to improving scientific understanding of seamount ecosystems and their ecological importance within one of the world’s most iconic Marine Protected Areas.
Key Contributions
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- Coordination of deep-sea and seamount research activities within the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
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- Analysis and interpretation of quantitative ecological and taxonomic data collected in deep-water environments.
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- Consolidation and integration of bathymetric datasets supporting marine spatial analysis.
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- Contribution to ecosystem services assessments related to seamount ecosystems.
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- Organization of workshops, courses and outreach activities related to marine conservation and deep-sea ecosystems.
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- Support for science communication and awareness initiatives focused on deep-water marine biodiversity.
Results & Impact
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- Contribution to scientific knowledge and conservation discussions related to deep-sea ecosystems in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
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- Support for biodiversity assessments and ecosystem characterization of seamount habitats within the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
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- Contribution to international discussions on ecosystem services and deep-sea conservation.
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- Participation in scientific collaborations supporting marine conservation and research initiatives.
Related Resources
1. Charles Darwin Foundation
Official website of the Charles Darwin Foundation, supporting scientific research and conservation in the Galápagos Islands.
Link: https://www.darwinfoundation.org
2. Scientific Publication – Characterization of Deep-Sea Benthic Invertebrate Megafauna of the Galápagos Islands
Salinas-de-León, P., Martí-Puig, P., Buglass, S., Arnés-Urgellés, C., Rastoin-Laplane, E., Creemers, M., Cairns, S., Fisher, C., O’Hara, T., Ott, B., Raineault, N., Reiswig, H., Rouse, G., Rowley, S., Shank, T.M., Suarez, J., Watling, L., Wicksten, M.K., & Marsh, L. (2020). Scientific Reports.
First systematic characterization of deep-sea benthic communities in the Galápagos Marine Reserve, including the discovery of numerous taxa new to science.
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-70744-1
3. Scientific Publication – Decapoda of Deep-Sea Volcanic Habitats of the Galápagos Marine Reserve
Arnés-Urgellés, C., Salinas-de-León, P., Martí-Puig, P., et al. (2020).
Research documenting crustacean biodiversity associated with deep-sea volcanic habitats and seamount ecosystems in the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
Link: https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/53970/
4. Scientific Publication – Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents as Natural Egg-Case Incubators at the Galápagos Rift
Salinas-de-León, P., Phillips, B., Ebert, D., Marsh, L., et al. (2018).
Research highlighting unique ecological processes associated with hydrothermal vent ecosystems and deep-sea species conservation in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-33180-9
5. IMPAC4 Congress – Knowledge Café on Ecosystem Services and Deep-Sea Seamount Conservation (La Serena-Coquimbo, Chile, 2017)
Knowledge Café co-facilitated during the 4th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC4), focused on ecosystem services, climate change impacts and conservation of deep-sea seamount ecosystems in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
Link: https://www.impac4.cl