Subject: "Curse of India" now in Galapagos Is.
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Galapagos plant threatened by the Curse of India
In April 1997, two scientists in the Galapagos Islands came upon a
small population of a plant species last seen in 1966 and deemed
extinct since then. While further searches have not revealed any
more plants anywhere else on the island, this population itself is
obviously on the brink of extinction again.
Wednesday, December 31, 1997
By Keya Acharya
In April 1997, two scientists
from the Charles Darwin Research [Image]
Stationin the Galapagos Islands In 1966, the botanist Uno
came upon a small population of Eliasson had discovered the
a plantspecies last seen in 1966 Floreana Flax Linum
and deemed extinct since then. Cratericola in the rim of two
extinct volcanic craters on
In 1966, the botanist Uno Floreana Island in the
Eliasson had discovered the Galapagos.
Floreana Flax Linum Cratericola
in the rim of two extinct volcanic craters on Floreana Island in
the Galapagos. The plant has had a chequered history since then.
It has not been found, in spite of repe ated searches, on any
other island in the Galapagos, neither was it found in its
original habitat on Floreana for two decades after Eliasson's
discovery.
In 1981, scientists from the CDRS found a few numbers of the plant
again at the same site of its original discovery. It promptly
disappeared again, in spite of intensive searches by the CDRS in
the 1990s. Botanists considered the plant to be extinct, give n
the extensive damage done to its native habitat by introduced
feral donkeys and goats on the island. One of the two volcanic
sites had also been heavily invaded by the Lantana Camara, a
species common in India, that has invaded most areas of the
Galapagos and been nicknamed the Curse of India by Galapagos
scientists.
Then again, in 1997, Alan Tye,
[Image] Head of Plant and Invertebrate
The Curse of India (the Biology at CDRS, spotted a tiny
Lantana camara plant species) bright green plant at the wall of
is dominating the fragile the second crater and, after its
Floreana Flax. chequered history , immediately
recognised it to be the Floreana
Flax Linum cratericola. Tye and his associate, Sarah Wilkonson,
subsequently discovered 13 plants of this species thought extinct,
only eightof which were adult, in a tiny 2x1-meter patch.
While further searches have not revealed any more plants anywhere
else on the island, this population itself is obviously on the
brink of extinction again. The site is a pathway used by donkeys
and suffers the fate of the Curse of India, being practically
covered by the Lantana camara.
Efforts are now on to revive the plant. Dr. Tye and his team have
fenced off this site, both from grazing animals and the Lantana
species, but can only remain hopeful of its regeneration in the
Galapagos, given the considerable damage that the invasive Lantana
and animal-grazing is doing to the entire island-group.
The Curse of India (the Lantana camara plant species) is however,
an introduced species in India too. Originating in South America,
it is considered introduced into India in the earlier part of the
century by British colonials. The Lantana flourished in its new
tropical habitat, quickly dominating and threatening other native
species. Considered a weed and invasive species since then, the
Lantana has, very recently, begun to be recognized as a fodder
species by authorities in India's protected areas and forests,
because herbivores such as the Indian Spotted Deer and the Sambal
are now adapting to ecological changes and eating its leaves while
the Langurs (monkeys) are eating its fruit.
Dr. Tye is now fearing yet another threat to the fragile Floreana
Flax: El Nino. Expecting 'the Nino' to arrive with early yet
continual heavy rains by late November to the Galapagos, he
remains worried about the survival of this plant.
For more information, contact Dr. Alan Tye, Depts of Plant &
Invetebrate Biology, Charles Darwin Research Station, Galapagos,
Ecuador, email: atye@fcdarwin.org.ec.
Keya Acharya is a freelance environmental journalist, researcher
and writer for a number of environmental publications India as
well as international news systems online. She has academic
qualifications in Environment & Ecology, Journalism and English
and is actively involved in formulating guidelines for Ecotourism
for the state government of Karnataka.
Copyright 1997, Environmental News Network, All Rights Reserved
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Related sites:
* Charles Darwin Research Station