Conservation of Giant Galapagos Tortoises: Integration of Research, Management and Policy
Giant tortoises were once a major component of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna on all continents (except Antarctica) as well as many large oceanic islands, but were rapidly driven to extinction nearly everywhere they occurred coincident with human colonization of their ranges._ They remain extant in just two locations: on the island of Aldabra in the Seychelles and on multiple islands in the Gal apagos archipelago._ This lecture will provide an overview of the continually evolving relationship between science, management and policy as it pertains to conservation of giant tortoises and the role they play as herbivores and seed dispersers in plant communities of Gal apagos.
Contact
Kristen Granger
klg297@psu.edu