NEWS FROM THE CHARLES DARWIN FOUNDATION
This is what has been happening during March 2008 at the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF):
- March was a month of discoveries. The Undulambia lindbladi, a small, endemic nocturnal moth, was collected on Santiago Island by CDF researcher Lázaro Roque-Albelo and researchers from Wake Forest University, North Carolina. The last record of this species on that island was from 1992. This species is found in the humid zones of Isabela, Pinta, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Santiago - sites that historically have been most affected by introduced species. The success in the eradication of goats and pigs and the control of introduced plants in Santiago has resulted in the gradual recuperation of the island vegetation and of the terrestrial invertebrates.
- The flora of Galapagos has also revealed its secrets. Four new endemic species of lichens from the genera Ramalina were described as new to science by CDF expert Frank Bungartz, and visiting scientist André Aptroot: Ramalina darwiniana, R. fragilis, R. furcellangulida and R. polyforma.
- This month also had some very special visits. The Young President's Organisation (YPO) shared their annual Family Experience with CDF in Galapagos. One hundred people came to visit the Charles Darwin Foundation and the station facilities, and they participated in a reception at the beach at which YPO donated $10,000 dollars to the CDF.
- Members of the Catalina Island Conservancy, an island off the coast of California, US, also came to visit the facilities. Scientists from CDF shared information with them in hopes of future collaboration in conservation initiatives.
- CDF were also honoured with a visit by the American artist Seth Chwast. Seth is 25 and has autism; he is also a celebrity in the US and without formal training he has developed an impressive painting career over the past five years. The passion Seth has for the Galapagos and its flora and fauna has brought him, together with his family, on a trip to exhibit his paintings of the islands in the Royal Palm Hotel. A percentage of the sale of Seth's paintings will be donated to the CDF to continue scientific research projects.
- Two hundred children from the island of Santa Cruz between the ages of 6 and 12 years old had a very happy March. They participated in the Happy Vacations programme that CDF organise together with the municipality, INNFA and the Galapagos National Park. The central theme of this year's event was "Who I am". The children participated in a range of events created around this theme including painting, physical expression, recycled art, music and puppets.
- Finally, the Lepidopterist Society, an international organisation with approximately 2800 members in 60 countries, has chosen Dr. Lázaro Roque-Albelo, CDF researcher, as one of their three vice-presidents for the period of 2008-2009. This organisation was established in 1947 in the US to bring together world experts interested in the study of butterflies and moths. Included in their objectives are the conservation, taxonomy and evolution of this important group of insects.
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