A Multigenerational Trip to the Galapagos

Description

Gail Conrad visited the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador on a multigenerational, family trip with travelers ranging from age 7 to 82. Join her at the Jesup Memorial Library on Friday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. as she shares stories and photos from this adventure.
 
During her trip, the group spent time on the three largest islands in the Galapagos: San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isabela. They hiked and biked on the coast as well as around the volcanic caldera on the island. The Galapagos is home to thirteen active volcanoes as well as many more that are inactive. They also swam and boated on the ocean coming face-to-face with many of the animals that call the island home. Here, she witnessed firsthand the phenomenon of adaptive radiation in an isolated environment. Adaptive radiation, which Darwin noted in the finches in the Galapagos, is a process in which organisms diversify rapidly, particularly when a change in the environment makes new resources available, creates new challenges, or opens new environmental niches in an isolated environment. Conrad will also talk about the environmental problems facing the islands because of excessive tourism in the region.
 
For more information on this talk, contact the Jesup at 207-288-4245.