The Role of Science for Conservation integrates the knowledge and reflections of thirty scientists, of which many have dedicated a substantial part of their professional life to the Galapagos archipelago, to the conservation of its biodiversity and to the sustainable management of its resources. The Role of Science for Conservation can be considered a milestone on the way to the successful conservation and sustainable development of this unique world heritage site.
Part 1: The Evolutionary Context
1.1. What Darwin Found Convincing in Galapagos
1.2. Research on Evolutionary Principles in Galapagos: Research on Evolutionary Principles in Galapagos: An Overview of the Past 50 Years
1.3. Evolution of Pathogens and Parasites on the Galapagos Islands
1.4. Turning Points in the Evolution of Vertebrates
1.5. The Boat, the Bay, and the Museum: Significance of the 1905-1906: Galapogos Expedition of the California Academy of Sciences
1.6. Chapter Summary
Part 2: Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring of Change
2.1. Monitoring the Galapagos Ecosystem: Challenges, Pitfalls and a Vision for the Future
2.2. The Neglected Majority - Biodiversity Inventories as an Integral Part of Conservation Biology
2.3. The Power of Long-Term Monitoring to Understand Mechanisms of Ecosystem Change: the Case of the Galapagos Marine Reserve
2.4. Wildlife Health Monitoringand Disease Management Protecting the Biodiversity of Galapagos
2.5. Chapter Summary
Part 3: A Systemic Approach: Modeling and Restoration
3.1. A Review of 40 Years of Eradication Programs in Galapagos: Impacts on the Whole Ecosystem
3.2. Food Web Structure of the Galapogas Pelagic Econosystem after a Decade of Protective Insights from Trophic Modelling
3.3. Mediated Modelling: A System Dynamics Approach To Environmental Consensus Building for the Galapagos
3.4. Chapter Summary
Part 4: Reconciliation of the Conservation with Socio-Economic Development
4.1. The Value of Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Conservation: A Challenge for the Galapagos
Matthias Wolff is Director of Marine and Coastal Sciences at the Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, Ecuador. Mark Gardener is Director of Terrestrial Science at the Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, Ecuador.