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

• Coordination of deep-sea and seamount research activities within the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
• Analysis and interpretation of quantitative ecological and taxonomic data collected in deep-water environments.
• Consolidation and integration of bathymetric datasets supporting marine spatial analysis.
• Contribution to ecosystem services assessments related to seamount ecosystems.
• Organization of workshops, courses and outreach activities related to marine conservation and deep-sea ecosystems.
• Support for science communication and awareness initiatives focused on deep-water marine biodiversity.

Results & Impact

• Contribution to scientific knowledge and conservation discussions related to deep-sea ecosystems in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
• Support for biodiversity assessments and ecosystem characterization of seamount habitats within the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
• Contribution to international discussions on ecosystem services and deep-sea conservation.
• Participation in scientific collaborations supporting marine conservation and research initiatives.

Funding & Partners

Charles Darwin Foundation in collaboration with international research institutions and marine conservation partners.

Related Resources

• Charles Darwin Foundation
• Characterization of deep-sea benthic invertebrate megafauna of the Galapagos Island
  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.  
• Decapoda of deep-sea volcanic habitats of the Galapagos Marine Reserve
  Arnés-Urgellés, C., Salinas-de-León, P., Martí-Puig, P. et al. (2020).
  Scientific contribution documenting crustacean biodiversity associated with deep-sea volcanic habitats and seamount ecosystems in the Galápagos Marine Reserve.  
• Deep-sea hydrothermal vents as natural egg-case incubators at the Galapagos 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.  
• IMPAC4 Congress — Knowledge Café on ecosystem services and deep-sea seamount conservation (La Serena-Coquimbo, Chile, 2017)