Galapagos Islands

No doubt many members would have watched David Attenborough's 3 part TV series on the Galapagos Islands which concluded last night.

For me, the 3rd episode was notable for

• insight into the problems caused by human importation of feral plants
• the view that humans can be seen as part of the Galapagos environment
• the impact of artificial feeding on the evolution of finches
• the potential of humans to cause both destruction & conservation
• the key role of tortoises species in determining the biodiversity of islands by creating micro-ecological systems for a range of living things. E.g., by barging through the vegetation they shape & prune the vegetation & encourage the germination of seeds; their dung provides habitat for insects; they disturb insects thereby providing food for other creatures
• how the reintroduction of tortoises has led to the restoration of biodiversity on some islands

Rivetting stuff, I thought.