A 2‐year (1993‐1994) study was conducted in the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) to determine the relationship between δ18O in skeletal carbonate and sea surface temperature (SST) in three species of reef‐building corals: Pavona clavus, Pavona gigantea, and Porites lobata. Coral samples were grown at 3, 10, and 3 m depth at Bartolomé Island, Champion iIsland, and Urvina Bay (Isabela Island), respectively. Hourly measurements of SST and sea surface salinity (SSS) were taken at each site immediately adjacent to colonies which were stained biannually to establish the chronology of growth. In addition, surface waters were sampled periodically (bimonthly to monthly) at each site to determine variation in δ18O seawater. Results indicate the mean annual SSTs were similar between sites, varying from 22.9°C at Champion to 23.8°C at Urvina Bay. Comparisons of monthly SST averages between instrumental and remote sensing (satellite, 1° × 1° grid) data show a high correspondence (r2 ranging from 0.84 to 0.94), indicating that remote sensing data are useful for interpreting the δ18O record in corals when instrumental data are lacking. Here δ18Ocoral analyses of eight specimens show that coralline aragonite is a reliable indicator of SST in Galápagos. In general, higher‐resolution coral sampling/year resolved more of the monthly variation in SST, up to 97% at a sampling resolution of 1.4 samples per millimeter of linear skeletal growth. Comparisions of the δ18Ocoral signal among and between species at the same site showed consistent seasonal patterns of variation closely tracking SST. In addition, comparisons between sites were highly concordant, with some differences reflecting local variation in SST. Seasonal patterns, however, were essentially the same over the entire region. Thus we conclude that the δ18Ocoral signal from coral skeletons in Galápagos can be used to interpret regional changes in SST variation.

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October 1982 through July 1983, the Galapagos Islands experienced the strongest El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event yet recorded, with heavy rains and a warm, unproductive ocean. During this period most seabirds did not breed, and many left the archipelago altogether. Dark‐rumped petrels which did breed during the event demonstrated low growth rate of chicks. Censuses and observations demonstrated substantial population decreases of other seabirds during the ENSO. Magnificent frigate birds suffered decreased nesting success, while blue‐footed boobies abandoned all nesting attempts. Total censuses of Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants taken before and after the ENSO demonstrated declines of 77% and 49%, respectively. We discuss the seabird population declines during ENSO and their subsequent recovery.

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While population sizes and structures naturally fluctuate over time, rapid within-generation changes are usually driven by shifts in habitat quality and (or) abrupt mortality. We evaluate how sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus L., 1758 = Physeter catodon L., 1758) responded to the dynamic habit off the Galápagos Islands over 30 years, relating it to variation in prey availability and whaling operations in the tropical Pacific. In the 1980s, males and females were commonly sighted foraging and socializing in the northwest of the archipelago. Sightings decreased during the 1990s; by the 2000s, they became very rare: occasional single foraging males were sighted and females abandoned the archipelago. In the 2010s, whales return to the southern waters, in large groups with apparently more breeding males and calves. The waxing and waning of Galápagos sperm whales are likely caused by environmental shifts together with ripple effects of whaling. Their patchy prey are influenced by variation in sea temperature and productivity, which drives movements of whales in and out of the archipelago. Whaling may have aggravated these movements by leaving an attractive surplus of prey in coastal waters depleted of whales. These findings highlight the magnitude of spatiotemporal scales used by sperm whales and the consequent challenges of assessing population dynamics of long-lived, mobile pelagic species.