Regions with exceptional endemic species that are highly threatened by habitat loss.
Norman Myers defined hotspots as areas with at least 1,500 endemic vascular plants and 70 percent or more habitat lost; 36 are recognised. They cover about 2.5 percent of land but hold over half of plant species.
Hotspots set priorities for conservation funding. Critics note they overlook other areas such as intact wilderness.
Example: Mediterranean basin, Caribbean and Cerrado are hotspots.
Regions with exceptional endemic species that are highly threatened by habitat loss.
Biodiversity Hotspots is one of the 52 topics in Taxonomy & Biodiversity. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Endemic Species, Species-Area Relationship, Endangered Species.
Madagascar and the Indo-Burma region.
Biodiversity Hotspots is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Taxonomy & Biodiversity that pair well with it include Taxonomy, Binomial Nomenclature, Taxonomic Hierarchy.
The closest topics to Biodiversity Hotspots are Endemic Species, Species-Area Relationship, Endangered Species, Conservation Biology. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Biodiversity Hotspots. To practise the whole of Taxonomy & Biodiversity, use the Taxonomy & Biodiversity quiz.
Biodiversity Hotspots: Regions with exceptional endemic species that are highly threatened by habitat loss. Endemic Species: Species found naturally only in one specific geographic area, like lemurs in Madagascar. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Endemic Species and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Taxonomy & Biodiversity quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Species found naturally only in one specific geographic area, like lemurs in Madagascar.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversityLarger areas contain more species, commonly following a power law.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversitySpecies at high risk of extinction, listed on the IUCN Red List.
🗂️ Taxonomy & BiodiversityThe scientific study and protection of biodiversity.
🗂️ Taxonomy & Biodiversity