This past semester I took a class at my college called Island Ecology. This class was just offered 2 years ago at my college for the first time and is quite rare in other colleges. It was a very challenging class and I have yet to see what I recieved in it. I get to find out on Wednesday. Anyway....the class was very fascinating. I leanred mainly about the ecology and geology of the Channel Islands of California. But I also leanred things about other islands as well that was just unbelievable.....the San Juan Islands, Hawaii, Galapagos, and other islands in the South Pacific.

Islands are considered laboratories of evolution because they are isolated landmasses separated from continents by barriers of water. Charles Darwin made a voyage in the HMS Beagle to the Galapagos Islands in the early 1800's. In 1834-1836 he wrote of his expereinces on the islands. He is known as the father of island biogeography and of course also of the origin of species and evolution theory.

There are 2 types of islands...Continental Islands are close to the mainland, which makes it easier for flora and fauna to colonize there. Oceanic Islands on the other hand are far away from the mainland, which makes it difficult for flora and fauna to colonize there. But those plants and animals that do make it on to the islands are very rare and unique species.

Since my class mainly revoloved around the Channel Islands of California, I think I am going to talk about those first.

The Channel Islands consist of 8 islands starting from south and going north...San Clemente Island, Santa Catalina Island, San Nicolas Island, Santa Barbara Island, Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, and San Miguel Island. Only 5 of the 8 Channel Islands though make up Channel Island National Park.....Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Anacapa, San Miguel, and Santa Rosa.

JulieJulieJulie !!! *HUGS* Thanks for creating this while I am still on (or back to) an island. I'll be adding to this!

Oh please do!! I hope you do and I hope Rob does too. New Zealand I would think would be considered an island.

WOOOOOHOOOOO!! Guess what?! I found out what I got on in my Island Ecology class........A. I was standing there reading the posted grades and trying to find my ID number. As soon as I found it and saw that I got an A, I just went crazy. I started screaming "YES" really loud and jumping up and down. Just as I was doing that, my professor walks by and gives me a weird look..."Someone is very satisfied." he says. I had the most biggest smile on my face and I didn't know what to say. "You definatly earned it." he replied. He's right, I guess I did. I left the building running and cheering all the way across the parking lot.

Hi all CONGRATS JULIE!!!!!!!!!! Rob

I think before I start getting into depth on the Channel Islands of California, I should familarize everyone with some basic words used in Island Ecology. Ecology: The study of the interrelationship between the biotic and abotic elements in an ecosystem. Ecosystem: All the cummunities of plants and animals that live in a specific geographical area. Community: All the populations of animals, plants, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa that live in a localized specific area of an ecosystem. Population: All the individuals of specific genus species that live in a community. Genus Species: Only those animals and plants which can and do reproduce fertile offspring. Niche: The role that an organism plays in the community it lives in. Competitive Exclusion: No two organisms can occupy the same niche. Keytone Species: Some organisms have a niche that is far more important than any other organisms in the community. Habitat: The specific place or address and all the specific aboitic and biotic conditions where an organism lives. Symbiosis: Organisms living together in some way. Biogeography: Plant and animal distribution. Oceanic Islands: Distant islands that have never been connected to the mainland. Continental Islands: Close to or once were part of the mainland. Endemic Species: Species that are on some islands and are extinct elsewhere and enjoy localized and limited distribution. Autochthonous Endemics: New populations that are now different from their mainland species.

First the Angels win. Then the A. What next! You're on a roll, Julie.

Julie's unstoppable. You go Girl!!!

How did organisms get on to Islands? Well, there is several ways. First is by land bridges. Organisms may have moved to islands by crossing areas of land that were formally attached to the mainland when sea level was lower. The Channel Islands of California may not have been connected to the mainland during the Pleistocene era, about 2 million to 12,000 years ago. The Farallon Islands off of San Francisco Bay were probably attached to the mainland. Organisms may have gotten onto islands by swimming or flying. Flying animals could reach the islands without hardly any difficulty. Organisms may have made it across to islands on floating debris downstream and rivers took them out to sea. In 1955, a live Black-tailed Jack Rabbit was found floating on a kelp raft near San Clemente Island. Small insects and seeds may have been carried across to islands when strong wind blows offshore. There is two other ways organisms can get on to an island and that is by passive transport and vicariant transport. In passive transport birds can transport insects and seeds on their feet and feathers. Mainland birds may have eaten plants and the seeds that were deposited after the bird arrived on the island. Some barbed seeds can stick to bird's feathers or feet. Vicariant transport is a form of transport associated with plate tectonics. The northward movement of land west of the San Andreas Fault is a possible example of vicariant transport.

Island Biogeography Theory The Island Biogeography Theory states that to establish residence on an island, a species must first be able to get on to the island either by vicariant transport, passive transport, air floation, rafting, swimming, flying, or by land bridges. Once they get onto the islands they need to find a suitable habitat, food, water, and must be able to reproduce successfully to ensure the survival of that species. The two factors that influence the number of species on an island is rate of immigration and rate of extinction. These two rates must remain in equilibrium and get to a point of ecological saturation, where the total number of species is maximized.

vicariant?

Congratulations Julie!

How they got here is more amazing than how we got here. In Hawaii, you have to be sea-borne. Of course, greatoceanic storms brought not only very light airborne seeds but also birds blown off course. Then there are the tradewinds that brought commerce to Hawaii. Flotsam brought many hitch-hikers. Alas, mankind brought the most damaging things on their ships. Rats (though even the Hawaiians had their own on those voyaging canoes.) and little wretched bugs and other amenities of civilization - cockroaches and mosquitoes have enriched the island life. No one can be an isolated island. We each are responsible for keeping the seas clean and the life in the water surrounding us healthy so we, too, may live.

Mele Kalikimaka, and Big Holiday Hugs from your humble hostess.

Holiday hugs in return!

I will be dining today with some interesting people and even more interesting island food including "traditional" raw fish and seaweed. How many other islanders can claim that? Ir is sunny and beautiful here and looks like June about to become July. Cool nights and warm days with a little snow on Mauna Kea. Mele Kalikimaka. I'll let you know what we ate when I return!

Just had Cornish hen, dresing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. With a fine red wine.

Surprise! I spent it online with better friends and left over Chinese food. I'd much rather spend it with those I love and who love me than anywhere else. ...and to all a good night.

Topic 86 of 86: 'Island Ecology' Resp 23 of 23: Julie (cascadeclimber) Fri, Jan 3, 2003 (18:43) 3 lines WOW! No one is ever going to believe what happened to me today. It was like I was in fairytale or at least an overratted Hollywood movie. Since yesturday, this heat wave has moved into southern California. Temperatures have been ranging from 80-90 F in some places. I dedcided to take the oppertunity today to go body boarding at the beach. The water temperature is in the mid 50's here which isn't exactly comfortable. But with a wet suit I was able to get in with out much problem. After a while, I decide to swim out more. I was in about 15-20 feet of water when all of a sudden someone yells, "Look! Over there!" I look to where the person is pointing and I could see a dolphin. Common Dolphin to be specific. The dolphin suddenly turned and swam right towards me. Sure I had always dreamed of swimming with a dolphin but this kinda freaked me out. I kinda went into shock almost because I stopped treading water for a few seconds and started sinking. I watched with my mouth opened and my body slightly quivering as the dolphin swam right underneath me. I could feel my foot touch its fin or its body as it went underneath me. I watched in amazement as it went back towards the bouy's and out to sea. I was still in shock so I decided to get out and go home. I had had enough body boarding for one day. That was the most amazing, weirdest, shocking moment in my life. ported from the old server ot here by terry

Julie, you have been having icredibly strong Santa Ana winds. How bad it is really? Thanks, Terry! Julie's posts are worth the effort to repost. In fact, Geo is blessed with wonderful people. Each and every post is valuable to the rest of us.

I wouldn't know really. I just got back from San Francisco at 12:00am this evening. Sean was here though taking care of the pets. He said the wind gusts got up to 70mph here on Sunday night and Monday morning. No wonder there were trees down in our driveway! Surprisingly, we encountered wonderful sunny and clear skies in northern California.

You were lucky with the winds. I heard roofs and trees were destroyed by the wind. But, if it is like here (Hilo) most of the damagine winds occur at 14,000 feet.

What is your elevation? Sea level?

450 feet above sea level. Inland about 5 miles

Oh... and straight line to Mauna Loa's lava flows