Galápagos - an icon for ecotourism
Dr. JOHN KRICHER
Meneely Professor of Biology
Dr. John Kricher, renowned ecologist and Galápagos ecotour guide, writes extensively about ecology and natural history, especially about the ecology of the Americas. We caught up with John between meetings with students and field trips to Central and South America. He recently finished his latest book project:
Galápagos: A Natural History (Princeton University Press, 2006).
What prompted your Galápagos book project?
I was eager to write about the Galápagos as the islands have such importance in the history and study of evolutionary biology. Beyond that the Galápagos is virtually an icon for ecotourism, islands that held little esthetic appeal to the likes of Herman Melville and Charles Darwin but which now attract in excess of 100,000 tourists annually. The government of Ecuador has done an admirable job of keeping the native wildlife relatively secure but conservation is an ongoing effort and will likely always be. For any serious student of natural history, a visit to the Galápagos is a must.
How do you hope that your work will impact others?
Any author hopes all the people in the world will rush out and read his book. That, of course, never happens but books still reach a large audience. My book is an attempt to convey the unique nature of the flora and fauna of the islands and to look at each of the major species from an evolutionary view. In other words, how did the marine iguanas evolve to become algal feeders, how did the tortoises come to be so large, how did the Darwin's finches diversify? Most guidebooks do not go into the detail present in my book and I hope my writing takes the reader well beyond what most guides to the islands discuss. I hope readers will understand evolution having read about how it has shaped the creatures of the Galápagos. I also hope they will develop a strong commitment to wildlife conservation and a holistic view of Earth and its ecosystems.
How do other areas of research impact on yours?
It is a constant effort to keep up with all the research and subsequent literature that deal with my various fields of interest, including that from the Galápagos. I recently lectured at the Smithsonian Institution after returning from a Galápagos trip and before my talk I reviewed a number of new studies that have been published since my book. At a time when most scientists are highly specialized, I attempt to remain a "Darwinian type generalist" who cultivates a broad view of ecological and evolutionary biology and communicates that information to interested readers.
What books have you been reading lately?
I am currently enjoying "Gorgon", a book about the big Permian extinction that set the stage for the evolution of mammals and dinosaurs in the Triassic period of the Mesozoic Era. I recently read "Darwin, His Daughter, and Evolution" as well as "Skinny Dip." Regarding the latter, I am a real fan of Carl Hiassen, and I read that book on a recent trip to the Galápagos.
Dr. John Kricher's Personal Profile.
Wheaton's Department of Biology.
