From Galápagos penguins to giant daisy trees: Powerful El Niño could decimate rare wildlife

The prediction of a powerful El Niño season has alarmed Ecuadorian scientists, who warn of its devastating impact on the rare wildlife and unique flora of the Galápagos Islands. Home to over 230 islands, the archipelago is located 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador and is renowned for its high concentration of endemic species.

The phenomenon, characterized by rising sea temperatures and intense rainfall, is determined by measuring water temperature in the equatorial Pacific and comparing it to the normal average. If the temperature is 2 degrees Celsius above normal, it is considered "very strong."

According to the latest NOAA projection, sea temperature will be about 2.2°C above normal, indicating a significant impact. Franklin Ormaza, a professor and researcher at the Higher Polytechnic School of the Coast, emphasizes the severity of the situation.

The El Niño phenomenon poses risks to Galápagos wildlife, including animals, fish, and coral colonies. As water temperature rises, plankton, algae, and smaller fish species, which serve as food for larger marine animals, practically disappear. This results in a decrease in animal colonies' reproduction, leading them to disperse, starve, and die of starvation. Scientist Gustavo Jiménez from the Charles Darwin Foundation predicts that the archipelago's vertebrate population could decrease by at least 20% this year.

One of the most closely monitored species, the Galápagos penguins, serves as a marker of the impact on the archipelago's fauna. After the 1998 powerful El Niño, only 400 of the 1,300 existing penguins remained. The last three remaining Scalesia forests, known for their towering giant daisy trees, could also be at risk of disappearing if the El Niño phenomenon occurs with the expected magnitude.

Opuntia cacti, which grow along the seashore, would also be threatened by heavy rains that could overrun the habitat with invasive plants like blackberries. These plants support various ecosystems of insects, birds, and smaller plants, making them crucial to the archipelago's unique biodiversity.

Facing these challenges, scientists, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations have devised a plan to preserve threatened species. Their efforts include the eradication of invasive plants, seed collection, and the creation of nurseries. The Galápagos Islands, declared a Natural World Heritage Site in 1978, hold unique animal and plant species that inspired English scientist Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution.