If threats such as climate change and predation from non-native predators keep happening and increasing, marine iguanas in the Galapagos will undergo changes in their behavior. As their food consumption decreases due to more predators, they forage depending on predation risks, making them more vigilant against predators and threats.
To prove our hypothesis, we made a simulation about the adaptations that happen in Marine Iguanas based on the resources that they have and their environment.
This table shows the different interactions between all the agents in our simulation. We recorded 5 trials each ranked with different aspects which are food availability salt exposure, temperature, and increase of adaptation.
From the simulation, we found that marine iguanas foraged for food less and became more alert as predator numbers and climate threats increased. This supports our hypothesis that their behavior would change under more pressure. Therefore, our hypothesis is accepted. Here is what our simulation looks like: (Make sure ticks are VERY low to prevent lag)
Different challenges that Marine Iguanas have to go through are the arrival of predators which are invasive species, like pigs, rats and even cats and dogs. To avoid these species, we need to keep them away from the Marine Iguana’s habitat by keeping them in their own habitat, other ways to support this strategie is that we should have the areas of marine iguanas more well portected and monitored, adding other regulations such as for tourism is also well need to avoid disturbance. Not only that, the climate change in our world is also affecting them. Improvements for industries, companies, governments and even us as individuals should avoid greenhouse gas emissions, apply more policies and principles that avoides unsustianable fishing and plastic pollution practices all to save the marine ecosystem especially in Galapagos where Marine Igauans live.