Tortoise Trackers4/4: Tortoise Trackers Quiz In which parts of the world do giant tortoises live today?* Tropical rainforests Tropical islands Temperate woodlands Antartica Hint: 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 by foating on ocean currents across the sea from the mainland Giant tortoises were dropped on the Islands by large birds. Their hardy shell helped make sure they survived. Giant tortoises arrived on rafts of vegetation washing into rivers and then sea from the mainland 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?* Pirates and whalers used them as a food source onboard ships Island inhabitants killed them for food Ectoparasites killed the majority of the giant tortoises Hint: 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?* All 13 6 10 3 Hint: The tortoise population has decreased severely over the past few hundred yearsWhat do researchers think is the main reason why the tortoises make migrations?* To find food sources For exercise To escape human populations Hint: 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 activity A decrease in water supply on the Islands Increased human populations and tourism on the Islands An increase in population of their natural predator Hint: The answer is also impacting many other species on the Galapagos IslandsWhat information does a GPS tags on giant tortoises NOT record? Latitude Time and Date Sound Longitude Hint: What information is useful to scientists studying the tortoises
