plant life
There are seven main plant zones throughout the Galapagos. The zones are separated by the different sorts of plants that grow there. On some islands the zones are in different orders or, depending on how high the island is, some of the higher zones don't exist.
All the plants on the Galapagos Islands came from elsewhere. This means that their seeds could have floated over the air, floated across the sea, or birds could have dispersed them.
Some of the oldest plants on the Galapagos islands are related to Dandelions, these are the Scalesia trees. The Scalesia trees grow obviously in the Scalesia zone, they collect moisture from the clouds in the air. The water then runs down their trunks onto the ground, this creates water for other plants.
All the plants on the Galapagos Islands came from elsewhere. This means that their seeds could have floated over the air, floated across the sea, or birds could have dispersed them.
Some of the oldest plants on the Galapagos islands are related to Dandelions, these are the Scalesia trees. The Scalesia trees grow obviously in the Scalesia zone, they collect moisture from the clouds in the air. The water then runs down their trunks onto the ground, this creates water for other plants.
The littoral zone
(costal zone)
The littoral zone is the plant life around the coast of the islands. The plants there are able to live with salt and wind. Most plants here came from their seeds travelling the sea.
The arid zone
As the name suggests, the arid zone is a dryer zone, a sort of desert but with a few deciduous trees. It is the biggest zone and many cacti, shrubs and heat resistant plants live here.
The scalesia zone
The scalesia is a forest of evergreens, rather than deciduous trees. It is a cloud forest and is diverse in species, especially ferns and moss. This zone mostly only exists in the higher islands. The Scalesia zone was named after a particular plant that came to the islands a long time ago, it is related to Dandelions. The transition zone The transition zone has more deciduous forest than the arid zone, but less than the scalesia zone, it is sort of like a mix of the two zones. |
The brown zone
This zone has its name because of all the moss and lichens that turn brown in the dry season. This is a zone not usually mentioned, because it is very small and some islands don’t have it at all.
The miconia zone
The miconia zone is named after the Miconia shrub that grows abundantly here. The miconia is a very humid zone.
The pampa zone
The pampa zone is the highest, there are often no trees or bushes, but there are ferns depending on how much moisture is in the air.
This zone has its name because of all the moss and lichens that turn brown in the dry season. This is a zone not usually mentioned, because it is very small and some islands don’t have it at all.
The miconia zone
The miconia zone is named after the Miconia shrub that grows abundantly here. The miconia is a very humid zone.
The pampa zone
The pampa zone is the highest, there are often no trees or bushes, but there are ferns depending on how much moisture is in the air.
There is no dirt on a volcanic plain right? So how did these plants get to grow, and where did the dirt come from.
Millions of years ago, a tiny seed blew across in the wind, and happened to land in a crevice of volcanic rock. This crevice collects water and condensation. That is how some plants got their water. When the plants decomposed they leave behind dirt, for other plants to live in. Plants that come by bird digestive systems, have their own fertiliser. Did you know that most flowers on the Galapagos Islands have evolved to be white or yellow? This is because they are the colours that the carpenter bee likes best. |