Fernandina Island
This month we are getting a “taste” of both of the two climatic seasons of the Galapagos. We can call this time of year the “in between” or transition time. Air temperature is not too high, neither is it very low. The ocean water is not cold, yet it is not really warm either. Even the Galapagos animals seem to be exhibiting “in between” behaviors!
A great example of the transition season behaviors that we have witnessed has to do with the marine iguanas. On the southeastern and central islands, they are still behaving like gregarious and carefree creatures. Their only important business each day involves a visit to the tidal areas at the right time to graze on exposed algae.
On Fernandina this morning the iguanas had a completely different attitude. The males have begun to defend territories. They bow their heads up and down proclaiming the king of each parcel of lava. The breeding season has begun on the western islands; male iguanas are changing in color, getting some red and green along their backs. Their former passive attitude towards others of their kind has altered to an aggressive territorial display in hopes of attracting the largest and best females.
On these expeditions aboard the Polaris we travel through all the latitudes and longitudes of this archipelago; we have had a glimpse of how diverse the behavior of the marine iguanas can be in the two seasons, and how varied life is on each of the islands.
This month we are getting a “taste” of both of the two climatic seasons of the Galapagos. We can call this time of year the “in between” or transition time. Air temperature is not too high, neither is it very low. The ocean water is not cold, yet it is not really warm either. Even the Galapagos animals seem to be exhibiting “in between” behaviors!
A great example of the transition season behaviors that we have witnessed has to do with the marine iguanas. On the southeastern and central islands, they are still behaving like gregarious and carefree creatures. Their only important business each day involves a visit to the tidal areas at the right time to graze on exposed algae.
On Fernandina this morning the iguanas had a completely different attitude. The males have begun to defend territories. They bow their heads up and down proclaiming the king of each parcel of lava. The breeding season has begun on the western islands; male iguanas are changing in color, getting some red and green along their backs. Their former passive attitude towards others of their kind has altered to an aggressive territorial display in hopes of attracting the largest and best females.
On these expeditions aboard the Polaris we travel through all the latitudes and longitudes of this archipelago; we have had a glimpse of how diverse the behavior of the marine iguanas can be in the two seasons, and how varied life is on each of the islands.
