Spiders and insects on the Galápagos

The long study carried out by Léon Baert and Frederik Hendrickx shows that there are about 150 species of spider on the Galápagos. By way of comparison, there are about 700 spider species in Belgium. Therefore, the Galápagos Islands are actually species-poor, unlike most people think. This is convenient for scientists, because it enables them to study all the species in detail. In no way whatsoever does this poverty of species imply that the islands are not remarkable. More than 60% of the spiders are endemic, which means they occur nowhere else in the world.

Unfortunately, these rare species are also exceptionally vulnerable. The biggest threat comes from species that do not occur on the Galapagos naturally, but arrive through human intervention. This is an important area of study for Wouter Dekoninck, a specialist in ants, who has recently joined the team. These invasive species can sometimes supplant indigenous populations. “One example is the fire ant”, he explains. “In some places they occur in such huge numbers that they threaten not only the indigenous spiders and insects, but large animals, such as giant tortoises too. To find the right measures to protect the indigenous species of the Galápagos against them we need a good understanding of where they are and how they are spreading. With our study we hope to play a part in this, and so help preserve the unique biodiversity of these islands.”