About our site
The Galápagos Marine Reserve and the Hermandad Marine Reserve protect one of the most extraordinary marine ecosystems on Earth, spanning vast areas of the Eastern Tropical Pacific and supporting exceptional biodiversity, high levels of endemism, and globally important migratory corridors for sharks, turtles, marine mammals, seabirds, and other marine life. These waters connect diverse habitats ranging from coastal reefs and mangroves to deep-sea environments that remain largely unexplored.
Despite decades of scientific research, the immense scale and complexity of these protected areas mean that many species and ecological processes remain poorly understood. Climate change, invasive species, and other human-driven pressures highlight the need for more effective and comprehensive monitoring tools.
This project uses environmental DNA (eDNA) and environmental genomics to transform how biodiversity is detected and monitored across the reserves. By collecting genetic traces left behind by organisms in seawater, we can identify species that are rare, cryptic, migratory, or difficult to observe through traditional surveys. Working in partnership with the Galápagos National Park Directorate, the Biosecurity Agency of Galápagos, academic institutions, and conservation partners, the initiative will strengthen biodiversity monitoring, support biosecurity efforts, and provide critical information for conservation and management across Galápagos and the wider Eastern Tropical Pacific.
What we plan to achieve
Our work will explore how environmental DNA can help reveal biodiversity patterns across the Galápagos Marine Reserve. We hope to improve the detection of uncommon, cryptic, and declining native species, including species of conservation concern listed on the IUCN Red List, strengthen early-warning systems for invasive species, and identify biodiversity that remains poorly documented or entirely unknown to science.
By generating more comprehensive biodiversity data, we aim to support species conservation assessments, population monitoring, and the identification of priority areas for protection. The project supports the long-term management goals of the Galápagos National Park Directorate and the Biosecurity Agency of Galápagos by providing new approaches for biodiversity monitoring, biosecurity, and adaptive conservation.
By combining eDNA with existing ecological monitoring programs, oceanographic surveys, remote sensing, and traditional taxonomic expertise, we aim to build a comprehensive environmental genomics framework that strengthens conservation decision-making in Galápagos and serves as a model for protected areas throughout the Eastern Tropical Pacific.