Biodiversity hotspots

The idea

Biodiversity hotspots are regions that support a large number of endemic species and have undergone significant habitat loss, which makes them especially important for conservation.

Where to protect first

A region has many endemic species, but a large part of its habitat has been lost.

How important is it to protect such a region?

• It is especially important to protect
• It is not worth protecting
• It matters less than a region with no endemic species

Is it a hotspot?

Tap the bin where each belongs.

Two conditions together

Both conditions must hold. A region needs a large number of endemic species and it must also have lost a lot of habitat. Such regions are especially rich in the number and variety of organisms, and protecting them supports food webs and keeps ecosystems healthy.

Biodiversity hotspots are regions that support a large number of endemic species and have undergone significant habitat loss, which makes them especially important for conservation.

Notes

A biodiversity hotspot has many endemic species and significant habitat loss, so it is especially important for conservation.

Check yourself

Which two things together make a region a biodiversity hotspot?

Why are hotspots especially important for conservation?

Sundaland, one of the global hotspots, includes which islands?

What does protecting hotspots help ecosystems to do?

• Many endemic species and significant habitat loss — correct. Yes!
• Many endemic species and no human use. The second condition in the definition is significant habitat loss.
• Large size and cold climate. Size and climate are not part of the definition of a hotspot.
• They contain no endemic species. Hotspots support a large number of endemic species.
• They hold many endemic species and have lost a lot of habitat — correct. Yes!
• They have lost no habitat at all. Hotspots have undergone significant habitat loss.
• North East India. North East India is included in Indo-Burma, another hotspot.
• The Himalayas. The Himalayas are listed as a separate hotspot.
• The Nicobar Islands — correct. Yes!
• Support food webs and remain healthy — correct. Yes!
• Stop all habitat from changing. The book says protecting these regions helps food webs and healthy ecosystems. It does not say habitats stop changing.
• Remove endemic species. Hotspots are important because they support many endemic species, so protecting them keeps those species.