Tailor Made Holidays in The Galapagos Islands: In the News

Kelp shows marine life at Galapagos Islands: 25-09-2007

Researchers have recently found numbers of previously undiscovered underwater kelp forests in the Galapagos Islands.

The seaweed beds are thought to be a good habitat for marine life in the tropical sea waters, particularly shielding them from the damaging effects of climate change.

While kelp forests are normally found in cold waters, scientists calculated that there was an area of over 8,880 miles in the Galapagos Islands that could allow for the seaweed forests to grow. Upon investigating, they found that the forests did exist, despite beliefs that the water was too warm for them.

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the authors of the study said: "The existence of deep-water refuge for tropical kelp has profound biogeographical and evolutionary consequences."

It is thought that the forests may be home to thousands of different species, especially as the Galapagos Islands, a popular diving spot, is home to a very diverse population of wildlife.

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