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Particularly Poignant
Medium: pastel on museum paper
Year Produced: 2010
Dimensions in inches (H x W): 23 x 12 "
The body wastes of Galapagos giant tortoises constitute a limited and diminishing natural resource for numerous island organisms. The endemic giant tortoises of Galapagos are the only native terrestrial herbivores that move throughout the islands. By leaving their droppings behind they transport a great amount of semi-digested biomass from the highlands to the lowlands. They open gaps in the forests and the seeds of certain plants from their intestinal tracts germinate at a higher rate than those that don't. The droppings attracts insects which become a food source for warblers, finches, mockingbirds and Lava Lizards. It then decomposes quickly, generating soil and allowing plants to grow. As producers of this resource, tortoises are a keystone species of Galapagos. Wherever they disappear, island biodiversity loses. The ultimate recyclers, other species rely on them because they support the ecosystem by leaving their poignant pooh behind!
What's more poignant than pooh? The endemic giant tortoises of Galapagos are the only natural, land based herbivore that move throughout the islands. By leaving their pooh behind they transport a great amount of semi-digested biomass from the highlands to the lowlands. They open gaps in the forests and the seeds from their intestinal tracts germinate at a faster rate than those that don't. Their pooh attracts insects which become a food source for warblers, finches, mockingbirds and lava lizards. It then decomposes quickly generating soil and allowing plants to grow. As the designers and engineers of the ecosystem they keep the ecological connection between plants and animals linked thus making them the keystone species of Galapagos. Without giant tortoises biodiversity on any island where they are absent will suffer. The ultimate recyclers, other species rely on them because they support the ecosystem by leaving their poignant pooh behind!
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