Question

What is biodiversity hotspot?

Hint:

Biodiversity hotspots are priority areas for conservation as they contain a large number of unique species but are highly vulnerable to extinction.

Answer 1

A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region that is rich in endemic species (species found nowhere else) but is also under significant threat due to human activities. The term was first introduced by Norman Myers in 1988, and later expanded by Conservation International. According to Conservation International, a region qualifies as a biodiversity hotspot if: \begin{enumerate} \item It has at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics. \item It has lost at least 70% of its original habitat. \end{enumerate} These regions cover only about 2.3% of Earth's land surface but account for more than half of the world's endemic plant species and a high proportion of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Examples: \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Indo-Burma Region (including North-East India)} \\ \bullet & \text{Himalaya (Entire Indian Himalayan Region and the Indo-Burma ranges)} \\ \bullet & \text{Indo-Malayan Region (Nicobar Islands)} \\ \bullet & \text{Tropical Andes, Amazon rainforest (global examples)} \\ \end{array}\] Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{A biodiversity hotspot is a region rich in endemic species but under threat of habitat loss.}} \]