Galapagos Log
 

As some of you may know (now that I think about it, hardly any of you know shit about this), I'm heading to the Galapagos Islands for 6 + months (after a short stop in Quito, Ecuador to sort out a visa).

I'll be doing marine based research as a volunteer for the Charles Darwin Foundation (www.darwinfoundation.org).

I figured (perhaps incorrectly), that it might be interesting to keep a record of the stuff I'm doing and the things I see over there on Wucorp.

I'm not sure how regularly I'll be able to update this over there but I'll try my hardest for my Wucorp comrades.

For those that don't know about the Islands, that CDF website is a good place to start.

Anyway, I don't leave till September 18th, so I suppose I can answer some questions for anyone that's interested. After that I'll be updating this with photos and stories from my travels (hopefully it's all reasonably interesting).

I'll be staying in Puerto Ayora on the Island, Santa Cruz:

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My project is based on Floreana.

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so what are you actually going to be doing?
whats the focus of the project and your particular involvement with it?

Sounds fucking awesome. How did you get to do this? does the foundation fund the whole trip?

The project is basically all about the analysis of benthic fauna, predominately invertebrates. The CDF monitor and sample at 2 sites around Floreana approximately every 2 months.

It is part of a larger research project on benthic succession being carried out by a research fellow (yeah, that's a real term) at the University of Bremen in Germany.

Benthic succession more or less means changes to the make up (species' abundance and diversity) of a community, in this case, a benthic or "bottom dwelling" community.

My role in the field will be to collect the invertebrate species (which would include diving for them), identify them, and perform statistical analysis on the data that is collected.

In between, I'll be preparing materials for field trips, and performing statistical analysis. I've been told I'll be required to work on other projects also, but I'm not sure at this point what other projects I'll get.


I sent applications to several different organisations. This was probably the most competitive. I got offered a position on mainland Ecuador which would have envolved working on coral reefs. I also got a similar offer from a group in Mexico.

I decided this was by far the best opportunity.

Unfortunately SID, they don't fund the trip at all. Despite this, I think the opportunity is well worth it.

This is amazing! Good luck Rob and definitely keep us updated!

Make the most of it, this will be some serious experience.

Heres your check list

* find a sloth and level with him.
* cultivate a orchid
* bring back several algae species
* live in a mud-hut with some sort of straw roof
* bang a galapegian traditional dancer next to a charles darwin statue, when your finished graf ob4cl2 on charles chest.
* make a campfire and tell your group about raekwons life story, leave out the lex diamonds period.

Die you lucky bastard! :)

The Charles Darwin Foundation


CDF Galápagos is an international, non-profit organization, established in 1959 under the auspices of UNESCO, and registered in Belgium. In 1964, protected by an agreement with the government of Ecuador, the Charles Darwin Foundation established the Scientific Research Station (the place I'll be staying) in Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island with the purpose of providing the Ecuadorian Government with scientific advice on the conservation of Galápagos. The main offices are in Puerto Ayora, and the Foundation also has representatives in San Cristobal and Isabela.


The Foundation’s principal strategic partner is the Galápagos National Park Service, the government administration service for the Galápagos National Park (PNG) and the Galápagos Marine Reserve (RMG), both established with the support of the CDF.


The Foundation also works in conjunction with key Galápagos institutions, including the National Galápagos Authority (INGALA), the Ecuadorian Agricultural Service. (SESA), the Galápagos Quarantine and Inspection Service (SICGAL), the local municipalities and local government.


Peace be with you.

I'd like to check out your Galapagos Log(no homo)

this sounds interesting, robert
keep us up to date on the galapagos expedition

and lots of pics, man...i saw a special on the islands and it looks beautiful, and the biodiversity is unparalleled...so pics of flora and fauna are a must.