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BYCHANDRA SEKHAR MEDAHOTSPOTS OF BIODIVERSITYWhat is biodiversity hot spot?Important criteria for a region to be a hotspot: i)Vascular endemic plants ii)Primary vegetation. Biodiversity hotspots are a method to identify those regions of the world where attention is needed to address biodiversity loss and to guide investments in conservation.EVOLUTION OF BIODIVERSITY THREE IMPORATANT STAGES: INTRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT UPDATIONENDEMIC SPECIES: Species that have very restricted distribution and are found relatively small rangesThe 34 Terrestrial Hotspots

Biodiversity Hotspots 4The picture in the PowerPoint indicates the 34 terrestrial hotspots (taken from: Biodiversity Hotspots).34 HOTSPOTS ARE:Atlantic Forest California Floristic Province Cape Floristic ProvinceCaribbean IslandsCaucasusBrazilian Cerrado Central Chile Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa East Melanesian IslandsEastern African AfromantaneGuinean Forests of West AfricaHimalayasHorn of Africa Indo-BurmaIrano-AnatoliaJapanMadagascar and Indian Ocean IslandsMadrean Pine-Oak Woodlands Maputaland-Pondoland-AlbanyMediterranean Basin Mesoamerica Mountains of Central Asia Hengduan Mountains of Southwest China New Caledonia New Zealand Philippines Polynesia-MicronesiaSouthwest Australia Succulent Karoo Sundaland Tropical Andes Tumbs-Choc-Magdalena Wallacea Western Ghats and Sri Lanka

The 11 Marine Hotspots

http://www.starfish.ch/reef/hotspots.html6The picture in the PowerPoint indicates the 11 marine hotspots (taken from: http://www.starfish.ch/reef/hotspots.html).The 11 Marine Hotspots PhilippinesSundaland IslandsWallaceaGulf of Guinea Southern Mascarene IslandsEastern South AfricaNorth Indian OceanSouthern Japan, Taiwan and Southern ChinaCape Verde IslandsWestern CaribbeanRed Sea and Gulf of AdenReasons For High Concentration of Hotspots (Tropical Regions)High diversityHigh degree of endemismLand availabilityHabitat loss and destructionBiological accomodationRegion of occurrencesShare characteristicsClimatic conditionsCanopyAvailability of plant speciesSocial and economical issues

8Kerr and Burkey (2002) state that these tropical areas have also have a high degree of endemism in comparison to temperate and polar regions, and are also restricted to a small land area. But, most of these tropical areas are under severe threat due to social and economic crisis in tropical countries that result in habitat loss and degradation. A few thousand years ago tropical forests covered 12% of the planets surface, today however only a mere 5% of the planet is covered by tropical rainforests (http://rainforest.mongabay.com/0101). Also more than two thirds of the Earths tropical rainforests survive as fragments of what used to be a lush and pristine environment (http://rainforest.mongabay.com/0101). Gentry (1992) states that tropical forests are vanishing at disturbingly high rates that is why, Kerr and Burkey (2002) state that, most of the worlds hotspots are found within tropical forests. Distribution of Endemic (rare) Terrestrial Species and Freshwater Fish-PlantsTropical Andes Hotspot Sundaland Hotspot Cape Floral Kingdom

biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots

http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/Hotspots/Distribution of Endemic (rare) Terrestrial Species and Freshwater Fish-MammalsSundaland hotspotMadagascar and indian ocean islands hotspotWallacea hotspot

Distribution of Endemic (rare) Terrestrial Species and Freshwater Fish-BirdsDistribution of Endemic (rare) Terrestrial Species and Freshwater Fish-BirdsTropical Andes hotspotWallacea hotspot

THREAT TO BIODIVERSITYOverexploitation of resourcesPollutionLoss/Degradation of habitatExtinction of species due to aggressive non-native speciesGlobal environmental changesFragmentationPoachingEconomic and social causesDeforestration12Kerr and Burkey (2002) state that majority of hotspots occur were social and economic threats are significant which cause habitat loss and degradation resulting in anthropogenic induced extinctions. The root of these problems lies in over population of humans as annual growth rates continue to increase foreign debt loads increase, a reason why economic issues within these countries have intensified. This also reduces economic funds available to invest in conservation biology or to even prevent the causes of major hotspot threats. Kerr and Burkey (2002) state that another threat to biodiversity hotspot is the direct impact people living in them induce, as almost 20% of the global population resides in hotspots. Kerr and Burkey (2002) state overhunting and illegal pet trade, especially of mammals, also places huge pressure on biodiversity. Poverty is also an underlying reason to loss in biodiversity as many impoverished people rely on natural resources i.e. the surrounding natural environment to sustain their livelihoods (http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl/Biodiversity/pdf/biodiv_brf_01.pdf). Threats in terrestrial areasDegradation, destruction and fragmentation of natural habitatsDecrease in thecapacity of the agricultural areas to host wildlifePollution of soils, air and waterInvasions by alien speciesEpidemics affecting wildlifeClimate changeDessication of soils and wetlandsRecreation and leisureThreats in marine areasOverfishing and decline of speciesPollution and eutrophicationDegradation and destruction of the sea floorAlien species introductionsLeisure and tourism

ConservationPriority identification of regions Protection of areasIncentive measuresEcotourism mutually beneficialANY DOUBTS?THANK YOU