Maintaining biodiversity and conservation are important A-Level Biology topics. We look at how factors like human population growth and climate change can affect biodiversity. There are important ecological, economic and aesthetic reasons to maintain biodiversity making conservation a vital process. There is often a conflict between human needs and conservation that need to be managed, especially if we are to maintain the sustainability of natural resources.

The giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands were hunted to near extinction. They made very good food sources to take onboard whaling boats that were out on the sea for long periods of time. The island’s vegetation was also greatly reduced by feral goats, an invasive species. The evidence suggests that in the past there were 250 000 tortoises on the islands of the Galápagos, but now only 15 000 individuals remain in the wild.

You may know the story of Lonesome George – a male Pinta Island tortoise who was the last known individual of his subspecies. His claim to fame sadly being the rarest creature in the world. It was while Lonesome George was in captivity that his species was declared extinct in the wild.

So, what great news to hear that another Giant tortoise from a different species - Chelonoidis phantasticus – thought to be extinct for over 100 years – has been discovered. They named the female Fernanda as she was discovered on Fernandina Island. To be sure of her species, the researchers sequenced her whole genome and then compared it to the DNA taken from a museum specimen from 1906.

Even better news was that the researchers have discovered tracks and droppings that would indicate maybe two or three other tortoises – hopefully there is hope for a comeback.

Download the article from the Econews page here