There is so much wildlife in the Galápagos Islands that it is overwhelming— there are even endemic penguins and flamingos! What allows the quantity of biodiversity to exist here are the abundance of resources and niches, which decrease the amount of competition experienced between species and organisms.
These Tintoreras (white-tipped reef sharks) swim in shallow waters during the day to heat up before hunting at night.
Male elephant seals battle over a harem of females to mate with. These battles are usually fatal. Most males are either killed or are prevented from mating by more dominant males. This battle ensures courting privileges to the male.
Male Red-winged Blackbirds establish territories specifically for the purpose breeding during breeding season. The male and females do go out of the territory for foraging, but other males aren’t allowed to enter their territories.
Endemic to: Southeast Asia
Introduction: in 1970’s North America (Mississippi River Watershed, Everglades) to control algae in artificial ponds. Escaped
Impact: outcompete native species for food and space; can leap out of water and injure people
Methods/Challenges:
No natural predators
Have armor-like scales
Use of an electrical fence to prevent them from establishing in Lake Michigan
Endemic to: South/Central America
Introduction: in Australia (1935) to control sugar cane beetles
Impact: poisoned predators, depleted insect population for endemic insectivores
Methods/Challenges:
cannot reach beetles at top of sugar cane
toad has wide diet, secretes toxins, carries diseases, no natural predators
