Eisenia galapagensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
PROTISTA	OCHROPHYTA	PHAEOPHYCEAE	LAMINARIALES	ALARIACEAE

Scientific Name:

Eisenia galapagensis

Species Authority:

W.R.Taylor

Common Name/s:

English

–

Galapagos Kelp, Galápagos Kelp

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Vulnerable A2c ver 3.1
Year Published:	2007
Assessor/s:	Miller, K.A., Garske, L. & Edgar, G.
Reviewer/s:	Stuart, S.N. & Carpenter, K.E. (Global Marine Species Assessment Coordinating Team)
Contributor/s:
Justification: Prior to the 1980s, recorded from multiple sites across the central and western archipelago, but currently only known from western Fernandina and southwestern Isabela after targeted surveys. Based on total reduction in extent of occurrence over the past thirty years, mean population decline estimated at 30 to 50% per ten year interval over that period, with presumed cause of decline (El Niño) persisting and probably exacerbated by climate change. This species assessed as Vulnerable.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Eisenia galapagensis is an endemic species from the Galápagos Islands. Prior to 1983, reported from: Santa Cruz: Academy Bay (Taylor 1945: type locality), Caamaño and opposite Gordon Rocks (Taylor 1945). Santa Fé. Marchena: North Bay (Taylor 1945). Fernandina: Punta Espinosa. Isabela: Caleta Iguana (Wellington 1975). Floreana: Post Office Bay (Taylor 1945) and Black Beach Anchorage (Taylor 1945). After 1983, reported from: Fernandina: Cape Douglas (2004 record), several sites on the western coast (2007 records; Graham et al. 2007). Isabela: Caleta Iguana (2007; Graham et al. 2007).
Countries:	Native: Ecuador (Galápagos)
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Pacific – southeast
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Taylor (1945) reported E. galapagensis as rare and uncommon at Post Office Bay, Floreana, and common at Academy Bay, Santa Cruz. Additionally, Wellington (1975) reported E. galapagensis as especially abundant at depth around Caleta Iguana (Isabela). Since then, it has been collected from several sites off western Fernandina in 2004 and 2007, and at Caleta Iguana in 2007 (Graham et al. 2007).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	E. galapagensis has been reported to occur at depths of 27 to 55 m (Taylor 1945). This species is easy to recognize, in part because it has a maximum size of at least 85 cm frond length and is the sole known member of the cold-water order Laminariales occurring in the Galápagos Islands. E. galapagensis typically grow in groups; juveniles through adults were observed at all sites recorded in 2007. Individuals have been found as shallow as 12 m but populations appear to increase in density and size with depth, to at least 60 m when suitable substrata are available (Graham et al. 2007). The conspicuous sporophyte alternates with a microscopic phase.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

E. galapagensis has been reported to occur at depths of 27 to 55 m (Taylor 1945). This species is easy to recognize, in part because it has a maximum size of at least 85 cm frond length and is the sole known member of the cold-water order Laminariales occurring in the Galápagos Islands. E. galapagensis typically grow in groups; juveniles through adults were observed at all sites recorded in 2007. Individuals have been found as shallow as 12 m but populations appear to increase in density and size with depth, to at least 60 m when suitable substrata are available (Graham et al. 2007). The conspicuous sporophyte alternates with a microscopic phase.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Presumably El Niño and climate change. Ecosystem interactions involving these two factors appear to have caused widespread decline in algal populations because of an increase in density of grazing sea urchins and other herbivores, following overexploitation of predators along with ENSO disturbances.

Major Threat(s):

Presumably El Niño and climate change. Ecosystem interactions involving these two factors appear to have caused widespread decline in algal populations because of an increase in density of grazing sea urchins and other herbivores, following overexploitation of predators along with ENSO disturbances.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	E. galapagensis is present within the Galápagos Marine Reserve (IUCN category VI); Galápagos Archipelago Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA); Galápagos Island World Heritage Site (UNESCO N (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)), and Galápagos Island Man and Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO).

Conservation Actions:

E. galapagensis is present within the Galápagos Marine Reserve (IUCN category VI); Galápagos Archipelago Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA); Galápagos Island World Heritage Site (UNESCO N (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)), and Galápagos Island Man and Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO).

Bibliography [top]

	Graham, M.H., Kinlan, B.P., Druehl, L.D., Garske, L.E. and Banks, S. 2007. Deep-water kelp refugia as potential hotspots of tropical marine diversity and productivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104: 16576-16580. IUCN. 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 12th September 2007). Taylor, W.R. 1945. Pacific marine algae of the Allan Hancock Expeditions to the Galápagos Islands. Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions 12 12(iv): 528 pp. Wellington, G.M. 1975. The Galápagos coastal marine environments. A resource report to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. A resource report to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Quito. 357 pp.

Graham, M.H., Kinlan, B.P., Druehl, L.D., Garske, L.E. and Banks, S. 2007. Deep-water kelp refugia as potential hotspots of tropical marine diversity and productivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104: 16576-16580.

IUCN. 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 12th September 2007).

Taylor, W.R. 1945. Pacific marine algae of the Allan Hancock Expeditions to the Galápagos Islands. Allan Hancock Pacific Expeditions 12 12(iv): 528 pp.

Wellington, G.M. 1975. The Galápagos coastal marine environments. A resource report to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. A resource report to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Quito. 357 pp.

Citation:	Miller, K.A., Garske, L. & Edgar, G. 2007. Eisenia galapagensis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 June 2013.
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