Tortoise Trackers4/4: Tortoise Trackers Quiz In which parts of the world do giant tortoises live today?*Temperate woodlandsAntarticaTropical islandsTropical rainforestsHint: They can only be found in remote locationsThere are various theories as to how the giant tortoises arrived on the Galapagos Islands. Which of these is NOT one of those theories?*Giant tortoises arrived on rafts of vegetation washing into rivers and then sea from the mainlandGiant tortoises arrived by foating on ocean currents across the sea from the mainlandGiant tortoises were dropped on the Islands by large birds. Their hardy shell helped make sure they survived.Hint: Think about how other species may have got to the GalapagosOf these theories, which is NOT considered to be one of the main reasons that the giant tortoise populations decreased by so much between 1600 and 1900?*Ectoparasites killed the majority of the giant tortoisesPirates and whalers used them as a food source onboard shipsIsland inhabitants killed them for foodHint: Think about some of the characteristics that have helped the tortoises survive over thousands of years.Of the 13 major islands in the archipelago, how many of these islands do the tortoises inhabit at present?*3610All 13Hint: The tortoise population has decreased severely over the past few hundred yearsWhat do researchers think is the main reason why the tortoises make migrations?*For exerciseTo escape human populationsTo find food sourcesHint: In Galapagos, the plants change as you move from one part to another part of an islandWhat is the main threat to the giant tortoises today?*More frequent volcanic activityAn increase in population of their natural predatorA decrease in water supply on the IslandsIncreased human populations and tourism on the IslandsHint: The answer is also impacting many other species on the Galapagos IslandsWhat information does a GPS tags on giant tortoises NOT record?SoundTime and DateLongitudeLatitudeHint: What information is useful to scientists studying the tortoises
