Year 11 Pre-Diploma Biology

BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS
We tried to define biodiversity write down here what you now understand by the word BIODIVERSITY. Biodiversity can be defined as the diversity and variety of life in a place as well as its processes. It can be classified into; the variety and number of native species in a place. The genetic diversity, which means the combination of genes and the pattern of variation found within single and different populations. The number of habitats existent, as the number of the variety of inhabitants living in a place, therefore the ecosystem diversity. Overall biodiversity is the variety of species and habitats existing within a place. Around the world are various biodiversity HOTSPOTS. What do you understand by this term, hotspot? Biodiversity hotspots are the specific places which own a enormous biological diversity and serious threats levels of habitat lost. Hotspot can be referred as the certain point or region on Earths surface that is rich in biodiversity and is facing serious issues. In order for a place to be considered as a hotspot; it must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics, and it has to have lost at least 70 percent of its original habitat.1 List some of the more famous biodiversity hotspots, and beside each, very briefly say what makes it a hotspot or why it is determined or conserved as a hotspot. 1. Madagascar: It owns a huge variety of organisms. More than 80% of the known species living here are not found anywhere else in the world. The place is rich and unique in biodiversity. Suffer from human threats causing species to be at risk of extinction. 2. Cerrado, Brazil: Most extensive woodland/savanna region in South America. Variety of vegetation types. 3. Miombo-Mopane, Africa: Occupies about 10 countries from Central to Southern Africa. Contains almost 80% of all African Elephants. Is the home of various endangered species. Suffer from climate change threats as droughts. 4. Caribbean Islands: Various species of animals as Cuban cocodrile, hummingbirds and plants ranging from montane cloud forests to cactus scrub lands, threaten by deforestation and encroachment. 5. Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands, Mexico: Contains about a quarter of Mexicos plant species that provide site for migration to other animals species. Threaten by excessive logging.
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https://docs.google.com/a/britishschoolquito.edu.ec/file/d/0B2GEoV3z3guqY2p1eVZUbjJ6S1E/edit http://www.conservation.org/ http://www.cepf.net/Documents/final.succulentkaroo.briefingbook.pdf

6. Himalaya: The higher mountains in the world provide place for diverse ecosystems. Variety of species of big plants and animals as rhinos, tigers, vascular plants, etc. 7. Mesoamerica: Mesoaerican forests are the third largest hotspot worldwide. They own diverse species which are in severe decline due to an interaction between habitat loss, fungal disease and climate change. 8.Succulent Karoo: Owns the richest flora worldwide, 69% of them endemic. A variety of different reptiles and other species. It has been exploited due to minning, and agriculture, leaving it really fragile. 9. Amazon Rainforest: The home of about 40 000 unique plant species as well as primate and insect species. Threaten by the one of the highest deforestation rates. 10. California Floristic Province: One of the highest level plant endemism. Also owns a high number of threatened endemic species. Threaten by the rapid expansion of urban areas, pollution, and road construction.

Now go to www.biodiversityhotspots.org. Here you will find some useful definitions and some quite detailed descriptions of the worlds hotspots. Select any one of the hotspots from the drop-down menu and make a written summary with the following information: Succulent Karoo The Succulent Karoo is located in the southern part of the African continent. It is characterized by its richness in flora worldwide and its climate consisting in peaks of rainfall allows the further development of plants. It owns a remarkable 69% endemism in plant species. Is the home of various reptiles, unique species of lizards, tortoises and scorpions as well as the mysterious treelike succulent, the halfmens, tall aloes and others. One of the only two hotspots that entirely arid. This region has been threaten by human activity as agriculture, grazing and mining. The conservation of alowpopulationlevel havegranted the preservation ofthishotspot.Organisationsas The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and Ecosystem Planning have developed plans for the sustainable conservation of this hotspot. This includesaccelerating activities inunderfunded priority areas involvinglandusers.

John Osborne February 2014