Galápagos (1): A spectacular adventure

Viviane Cordovez op Galapagos
© Jos Raaijmakers / NIOO-KNAW

Galápagos (1): A spectacular adventure

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Biodiversity

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Viviane Cordovez

Jos Raaijmakers

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Jos Raaijmakers

An international research team led by NIOO is in the iconic Galápagos Islands. They're studying the islands' unique giant daisy tree (Scalesia) and its associated micro-organisms. Here, Jos Raaijmakers, Viviane Cordovez and the other members blog about what they discover.

Back on terra firma (San Cristobal) to prepare lab work in the Galápagos Science Centre. Half the team is sailing on to the north of San Cristobal, to sample the final two species of Scalesia.

So far, it has been a spectacular adventure. Doing fieldwork on the uninhabitated volcanic island where we were has been challenging, but the team spirit has been brilliant and we have done and seen so much. Not just Scalesia, but many extraordinary species of plants, fish, reptiles and birds!

For our initial impression, check out the photographs below.

  • Galapagos groep
    Jos Raaijmakers / NIOO-KNAW
    The research team, with Jos Raaijmakers (right) and Viviane Cordovez (centre)
  • Galapagos
    Jos Raaijmakers / NIOO-KNAW
    The Galápagos Islands have been iconic since Darwin's day
  • Scalesia
    Jos Raaijmakers / NIOO-KNAW
    The target of the expedition: Scalesia, the giant daisy of which there are a least 15 species
  • Galapagos: krabben
    Jos-Raaijmakers / NIOO-KNAW
    There are many extraordinary species in the islands, including these crabs
  • Galapagos: Viviane Cordovez
    Jos Raaijmakers / NIOO-KNAW
    NIOO-research Viviane Cordovez looks out over the landscape
  • Galapagos: monsters bestuderen
    Jos Raaijmakers / NIOO-KNAW
    Samples are being taken back and studied by the researchers

More about the expedition

Expedition to uncover invisible life in Galápagos
"What Darwin couldn't see"

See also

Microbiome Evolution Endangered species