hot spots of biodiversity

WEL COMEMUTTURAJ M DJr.M.Sc(agri)GPB

HOT SPOTS OF BIODIVERSITY

DefinitionLarge regions containing exceptional concentrations

of plant and animal endemism and experiencing high rates of habitat loss.

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.

The idea was first developed by Norman Myers in 1988.

Currently, 35 biodiversity hotspots have been identified.

most of which occur in tropical forests. They represent just 2.3% of Earth’s land surface, but between them they contain around 50% of the world’s endemic plant species and 42% of all terrestrial vertebrates.

Overall, Hotspots have lost around 86% of their original habitat and additionally are considered to be significantly threatened by extinctions induced by climate change.

CRITERIA

To qualify as a hotspot, a region must meet two criteria:

1. it must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world’s total) as endemics;

2. it has to have lost ≥ 70% of its original native habitat.

Important hot spots,1.western Ghats and Sri Lanka2.Himalaya3.Mediterranean basin4.Indo-Burma 5.Horn of Africa6.Madagacsar and Indian ocean islands7.Sundaland8.Forests of Australia9. Caucasus10. Mesoamerica

WESTERN GHATS AND SRI LANKAWestern Ghats of southwestern and southwestern Srilanka are similar in geology, climate and evolutionary history.

The western Ghats, known locally as the Sahyadri hills run parallel to India's western coast, about 30 to 50 Km inland.

They cover an area about 1,60,000 Sq Km and stretch for 1,600 Km from Gujarat to south tip.

SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ENDEMISM Taxonomic Group Species Endemic Species Endemism (%)

Plants 5,916 3,049 51.5

Mammals 140 18 12.9

Birds 458 35 7.6

Reptiles 267 174 65.2

Amphibians 178 130 73.0

Freshwater fishes 191 139 72.8

• Includes the entire Indian Himalayan region (and that falling in Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar).

• The Himalaya Hotspot is home to the world's highest mountains.

• The hotspot is home to important populations of numerous large birds and mammals, including vultures, tigers, elephants, rhinos and wild water buffalo.

HIMALAYAN

SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ENDEMISM

Taxonomic Group Species Endemic Species Endemism (%)

Plants 10,000 3,160 31.6

Mammals 300 12 4.0

Birds 977 15 1.5

Reptiles 176 48 27.3


Freshwater fishes 269 33 12.3

gloss pheasant

mithun

yak

INDO-BURMA

• Encompassing more than 2 million km² of tropical Asia.

• Indo-Burma is still revealing its biological treasures.• Six large mammal species have been discovered in

the last 12 years: the large-antlered muntjac, the Annamite muntjac, the grey-shanked douc, the Annamite striped rabbit, the leaf deer.

large-antlered muntjac the grey-shanked doucAnnamite striped rabbit

leaf deer

• This hotspot also holds remarkable endemism in freshwater turtle species, most of which are threatened with extinction, due to over-harvesting and extensive habitat loss.

• Bird life in Indo-Burma is also incredibly diverse, holding almost 1,300 different bird species, including the threatened white-eared night-heron, the grey-crowned crocias, and the orange-necked partridge.

white-eared night-heron grey-crowned crocias orange-necked partridge



Plants 13,500 7,000 51.9

Mammals 433 73 16.9

Birds 1,266 64 5.1

Reptiles 522 204 39.1


Freshwater Fishes 1,262 553 43.8

SUNDALAND

• The Sundaland hotspot covers the western half of the Indo-Malayan.

• Dominated by two of the largest islands in the world: Borneo (725,000 km²) and Sumatra (427,300 km²).

• More than a million years ago, the islands of Sundaland were connected to mainland Asia. As sea levels changed, this connection periodically disappeared, eventually leading to the current isolation of the islands.

• Notable plants in the hotspot include members of the genus Rafflesia, Rafflesia arnoldii, has the largest flowers in the world, measuring up to one meter in diameter.

Rafflesia arnoldii

red-knobbed hornbill

Sunda Clouded Leopard


Plants 25,000 15,000 60.0

mammals 380 172 45.6

Birds 769 142 18.5

Reptiles 452 243 53.8


Freshwater Fishes 950 350 36.8


Mediterranean basin• The Mediterranean Basin is one of the world’s richest places

in terms of animal and plant diversity.• The Mediterranean is particularly noted for the diversity of its

plants – about 25,000 species are native to the region, and more than half of these are endemic.

• “An outstanding centre of biodiversity but also one of the most threatened, mainly by human activity”.

• Besides this great richness of plants, a high proportion of Mediterranean animals are unique to the region: 2 out of 3 amphibian species are endemic, as well as half of the crabs and crayfish, 48% of the reptiles, a quarter of mammals, 14% of dragon flies, 6% of sharks and rays and 3% of the birds.

Endangered species Monk seal Bald ibis

pangolin

tuna loggerhead sea turtle

Mountain goats

Horn of Africa

Horn of Africa The Horn of Africa denotes the region containing the

countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. The Horn of Africa is almost equidistant from the equator and

the Tropic of Cancer. About 220 mammals are found in the Horn of Africa. Among

threatened species of the region include the Somali wild ass, the desert warthog, the hamadryads baboon, the Somali pygmy gerbil.

The Grevy's zebra is the unique wild equid of the region.

Somali wild ass

desert warthog

Grevy's zebra

• Some important bird species of the Horn are the black boubou, the golden-winged grosbeak.

Madagascar and Indian ocean islands

Madagascar and Indian ocean islands• The Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands biodiversity

hotspot includes the island of Madagascar and several neighbouring island groups.

• Madagascar is famous for reptiles such as chameleons and more than 50 different kinds of lemurs—unique primates found only on the islands in this hotspot.

• Experts estimate that Madagascar has lost as much as 80 percent of its original forest cover due to agricultural expansion, timber exploitation, uncontrolled livestock grazing, wood collection for fuel and charcoal production, hunting, mining, wildlife collection and introduction of non-native wildlife species.

Endangered species

Aldabra Giant Tortoises

Chameleon

Forests of Australia

• Australia has approximately 123 million hectares of native forest, which represents about 16% of Australia's land area.

• The majority of Australia's trees are hardwoods, typically eucalypts, rather than softwoods like pine.

Forest types 1. Rainforests

2. Melaleuca forests 3. Eucalypt forests 4.Casuarina forests 5.Callitris forests 6. Acacia forests 7. Mangrove forests

2 4

7 65

Endangered species

Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)

Koala Southern Cassowary

Caucasus

• It is home to the Caucasus Mountains, which contain Europe's highest mountain, Mount Elbrus, 5,642 metres (18,510 ft).

• derives the name of the Caucasus from the kroy-khasis (“ice-shining, white with snow”).

• It harbors some 6400 species of higher plants, 1600 of which are endemic to the region.

• Its wildlife includes Persian leopards, brown bears, wolves, bison, marals, golden eagles and hooded crows.

Endangered species

Persian leopardsbrown bears

golden eagles bison

Mesoamerica

• Mesoamerica was a region and cultural area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize.

• Domestication of cacao, maize, beans, tomato, squash and chilli, as well as the turkey and dog.

• Almost all ecosystems are present in Mesoamerica; the more well known are the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second largest in the world.

Endangered species

Whale Shark Hawksbill Turtle

Leatherback TurtleGreen TurtleOlive Ridley Turtle

THANK YOU

hot spots of biodiversity

Environment