Santa Cruz Island

There are many new projects getting started here in the Charles Darwin Research Station, or in some cases, simply receiving a renewed shot of energy and financing. As one walks past the administrative headquarters of the CDRS, green tarps catch the eye. A sign at the entrance indicates this is the "Shade House", where seedlings are raised protected from the intense equatorial sun. There are tiny beginnings of a variety of endangered species, and some not-so-endangered species of Galapagos plants. Some seedlings are being grown for future repatriation to their island of origin. However, when young plants are needed in bulk, the cultivation takes place in the highlands of the island, where the station maintains a large nursery. Arid zone plants, obviously, are raised from seedlings down around the station, in the Shade House, or perhaps even in the botanists' offices. The non-endangered plants raised in this house are for food, taken next door when needed to the "Insect Containment Facility" where various insect species are under observation. As mentioned before on this Web site, the Galapagos Islands have received unintentional introductions of terrestrial invertebrates that have proven over the last few years to be particularly detrimental to many indigenous plant species. Meanwhile, several varieties of plants are needed to test their alimentary preferences, or just to keep them alive as other factors used in population control are researched…thus the "Shade House".