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Significance The Galápagos Islands are an iconic evolutionary and ecological setting, recognized to be both species-poor and ecologically sensitive. Here, we show an indirect ecological cascade initiated by whalers harvesting… Click to show full abstract
Significance The Galápagos Islands are an iconic evolutionary and ecological setting, recognized to be both species-poor and ecologically sensitive. Here, we show an indirect ecological cascade initiated by whalers harvesting tortoises near the coast in the 1790s, which had lasting impacts on the highland interior of San Cristóbal Island. Our data also reveal how the replacement of endemic herbivores with exotic herbivores, namely, cattle, impacted the local vegetation. We advocate for the restoration of preimpact shrub species and tortoises to promote habitat rewilding, restoration, and especially the socioeconomic value of these highland ecosystems in providing tourist experiences.
Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Year Published: 2022
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