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Earth

Galapagos Island Volcano Erupts After 33 Years, Threatening Fragile Ecosystem 186

Posted by samzenpus from the when-the-volcano-blows dept.
An anonymous reader writes: Wolf volcano in the Galapagos islands has erupted for the first time in more than 30 years, sending lava flowing down its slopes and potentially threatening the world's only colony of pink iguanas. The Galapagos National Park says that currently there is no risk to tourism operations, but the Environment Ministry is notifying tourist operators to take precautions. A tourist boat passing by took an amazing picture of the eruption.
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Galapagos Island Volcano Erupts After 33 Years, Threatening Fragile Ecosystem More

Galapagos Island Volcano Erupts After 33 Years, Threatening Fragile Ecosystem

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  • A link to a broken facebook page.. (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 25, 2015 @03:28PM (#49770383)

    Doesn't this place have editors?

  • Photo? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by ArcadeMan ( 2766669 ) on Monday May 25, 2015 @03:37PM (#49770439)

    It's a freakin' volcano erupting and all we get is a Reuters article without any photo and a link to lame-ass Facebook which doesn't even work?

    • Yeah, I hate Facebook, too. Never got an account and warned all my friends it's a bad idea to.

  • Seems to me that the volcano... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Ellis D. Tripp ( 755736 ) on Monday May 25, 2015 @03:42PM (#49770473) Homepage

    would be PART of the ecosystem, no?

    • It's *all* part of a very delicate ecosystem [youtube.com].

    • Except that--to the extent that some organisms depend on the volcano for survival (eh, maybe some extremophile bacteria?)--no it is not a part of the ecosystem any more than a large asteroid on a collision course with Earth is part of the ecosystem.

      On a related note, there is a difference between caring about the preservation of endangered species and pimping 'organic' food. Only the later involves mindlessly screaming "but it's natural!"

  • Tourism (Score:4, Funny)

    by Livius ( 318358 ) on Monday May 25, 2015 @03:44PM (#49770483)

    Good to know that the exceedingly wealthy will not be suffering from slight inconvenience. And to think I was worried about the possible loss of irreplaceable ecological assets...

    • And to think I was worried about the possible loss of irreplaceable ecological assets...

      Why worry? Its a perfectly natural occurrence, completely out of our control, & nobody is in harm's way.

      • And I see no reason why a group of scientists/ecologists can't pick up the colony of pink iguanas and relocate them.

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by Livius ( 318358 )

        I know it seems like tourists are an infinitely-renewable resource, but how can we be sure?

  • White Man's Fault (Score:5, Funny)

    by pubwvj ( 1045960 ) on Monday May 25, 2015 @04:04PM (#49770607)

    Clearly this is a manmade disaster caused by White American Republican Males. They should stop volcanoing!

    • don't go volcanoing what don't need volcanoing.

    • Breaking News: Muslim Televangelist states the eruption is caused by masturbation.

      • Update: Muslim Televangelist retracts statement and issues apology; cites idiomatic confusion of the term 'pink iguana'.

    • If you think about it it only makes sense that fracking in America creates underground pressures which *must* force volcanos to erupt worldwide to alleviate the pressure. Frackers Drilled, Volcanoes Killed!

      Look for my paper on this in Science next month. It contains MANY data points which took me ages to fabri---er, collect.

  • You realize... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by duke_cheetah2003 ( 862933 ) on Monday May 25, 2015 @05:13PM (#49770947) Homepage

    ...if humans save these pink iguanas, we are interfering with nature. Can't have it both ways, by saying our actions that make stuff go extinct is bad, and actions by nature that makes stuff go extinct is bad, too.

    • Re:You realize... (Score:4, Insightful)

      by vux984 ( 928602 ) on Monday May 25, 2015 @06:03PM (#49771239)

      ...if humans save these pink iguanas, we are interfering with nature.

      Yes. And?

      Can't have it both ways, by saying our actions that make stuff go extinct is bad, and actions by nature that makes stuff go extinct is bad, too.

      Can't have what both ways? The premise is that things going extinct is universally bad. Yes, even when its entirely due to natural causes its still in our bests interests to preserve it. Biodiversity is objectively valuable; because we can learn from it.

      Letting a species go extinct is like shredding the last copy of a book. The more interesting and unique the species the greater the loss to science.

      Finally, and perhaps tangentially, its also rational to put higher value on the larger / famous species -- the extinction of some obscure spider or toad is perhaps just as much a loss as the extinction of tigers scientifically. But tigers are culturally significant in addition to being scientifically significant. So the extra awareness and priority to them is warranted.

      • The premise is that things going extinct is universally bad

        Says who? You realise that >99% of species that have ever lived are extinct? Of course it seems sad when a species goes extinct, especially as it's often because of unnecessary predation by humans (e.g. elephants, rhinos), so let's concentrate on stopping our own species being such arseholes. However, in general extinction is totally natural, and as in this (rare) case when it's not our fault at all, then let it be. I suspect that those Iguan

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by vux984 ( 928602 )

          Of course it seems sad

          "seems sad"? Did you even read what I wrote? I gave two separate and specific contexts where extinction is a clear loss to humanity: scientific loss in all cases, and cultural loss in more limited cases. Both go well beyond "seems sad".

          , especially as it's often because of unnecessary predation by humans (e.g. elephants, rhinos),

          Along with climate changes, desertification, habitat destruction, food chain collapse,...

          . However, in general extinction is totally natural

          Nobody is arguing that point. A meter striking a major city would be totally natural too. "Natural" is hardly a reason to simply let it happen if we see it coming.

          and as in this (rare) case when it's not our fault at all, then let it be

          It's still a scientific

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Livius ( 318358 )

        1. Every species has value.

        2. Every species does not have infinite value.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by vux984 ( 928602 )

          1. Every species has value.
          2. Every species does not have infinite value.

          I'd argue the Galapagos species are priceless. But I would also agree, that even priceless doesn't mean they have infinite value. There must be a reasonable limit on what we'd spend to save them ... but surely we agree its well above 0.

      • The premise is that things going extinct is universally bad.

        I don't think you'd be here typing that if the dinosaurs didn't go extinct. Extinction is not bad, nor is it good, it simply is. It is evolution.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by vux984 ( 928602 )

          I don't think you'd be here typing that if the dinosaurs didn't go extinct

          Probably not. Perhaps I should have clarified that things going extinct is universally bad for humanity.

          And yes, obviously prior extinctions leading to the evolution of humanity were not bad for humanity.

          On the other hand, humanity going extinct would be exceedingly bad for humanity.

          Other species co-existent with humanity now going extinct, in the sense that it represents a reduction in biodiversity to draw on and study is also bad for humanity.

          Extinction is not bad, nor is it good, it simply is. It is evolution.

          Right, it is not good or bad relative to the universe; its not

          • Re:You realize... (Score:4, Informative)

            by Dog-Cow ( 21281 ) on Monday May 25, 2015 @10:24PM (#49772507)

            Perhaps I should have clarified that things going extinct is universally bad for humanity.

            Except that it's not. In the vast majority of cases it's neutral. In some cases it might be good. You have some kind of Greenpeace-like attitude that humanity == bad, every other species == good. That's not how the Universe works.

            • Re: (Score:2)

              by vux984 ( 928602 )

              Except that it's not. In the vast majority of cases it's neutral.

              No. The total loss of a species to study and learn from is a loss. That's not neutral. Its not like one species is dying to be replaced by another; right now were are experiencing decreasing bio-diversity.

              You have some kind of Greenpeace-like attitude that humanity == bad, every other species == good. That's not how the Universe works.

              My entire argument is centered on what is to the ultimate benefit of humanity. And another respondent even (rightfully) called my position "anthropocentric". I'm not sure what to make of your comment; except to say: "swing and a miss".

            • I'd say that Greenpeace is arguably the good guys, in the same way as these "let Galapagos species die because it's natural" is a bad idea. Extinctions DO seem to serve a purpose in the grand scheme -- but only to wipe the slate clean for new designs. The earth has come close to becoming lifeless and either too hot or too cold, and that's been largely due to imbalances that cause species die off. So YES, more diversity = GOOD. And that's a provable statement in many subjective and objective ways.

              I just admi

              • Re: (Score:2)

                by adolf ( 21054 )

                We, as a self-satisfied SUV driving culture want to preserve our status quo AND pat ourselves on the back. Are we another myopic death cult?

                No. We're simply the top of the food chain. Everything else is, quite literally, beneath us, and has been for a most (all?) of recorded history.

                Does the wolf care whether the rabbit he just killed was the last example? Nay, he simply fills his belly with it, finds something else to devour, and the Earth gives no shits.

          • On the other hand, humanity going extinct would be exceedingly bad for humanity.

            Are you suggesting nature gives a f about us? We will go extinct, and probably by our own doing. Everything that has a beginning has an end.

            Personally, I think the whole debate against human activity being 'unnatural' is stupid. We are a product of this planet, what we do is natural, we aren't some extra-terrestrial interfering with our planet, we're natives living here, influencing our world. For better, or for worse. And a lot of in between.

          • Perhaps I should have clarified that things going extinct is universally bad for humanity.

            Smallpox.

            Measles.

            Rabies.

            Plague.

            So, it would be universally bad for humanity if those died out? If so, why all the efforts to immunize people against them?

            Or did you mean that "Cute things going extinct is universally bad for humanity"?

    • I have to roll my eyes at this concept. The logic seems to be based on a sock puppet concept of what will most annoy Environmentalists, or Hippies, or whatever is trying to "force humans to behave". Humans have an impact, merely by being a successful organism. If mosquitos killed off the dinosaurs, do we "blame" them? No.

      However, humans are in the position of mitigating their effect -- not only that, but we can PICK WINNERS! Human interference, or perhaps symbiosis, has elevated dogs to family pets and hel

  • "Environmentalists voice concern over iguanas"
    Cool, environmentalists voice concern over the environment making a species extinct.
    We should put a stop to the environment!

  • Volcano erupts in Galapagos and lava flows down the hill to cover a nature preserve potentially wiping out ping iguanas..... God denounced for being anti-nature because he has replaced a preserve with a parking lot....

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