Coldspot and Hotspot Analysis Flashcards
Characteristics of UNIQUE areas on Earth
Biologically rich but highly threatened
3 threats to rich biodiversity
- Urbanization
- Pollution
- Disease outbreak
Today, species are going extinct at the _____ rate
unimaginable
Areas or region on earth which are among the richest in terms of biodiversity but at the same time the most endangered bio-region in the planet
Biodiversity hotspot
Biodiversity hotspots must have at least ____ vascular plants as endemics
1,500
Biodiversity hotspots must have a high percentage of plant life found ____ on the planet.
nowhere else
A hotspot is _____
irrepleaceable
Hotspots must have ___ or less of its original natural vegetation threatened
30%
When was the word “biodiversity hotspot” coined?
1988
Who is the British ecologist who coined the word “biodiversity hotspot”
Norman Myers
Norman Myers identified ____ “hotspots” as areas with both ____ and ____
exceptional levels of plant endemism, serious levels of habitat loss
How many percent of all species of vascular plants are confined in 25 hotspots?
~44%
How many percent of all species in four vertebrate groups are confined in the 25 hotspots?
35%
hotspot expanses comprise ____ of the red areas
30±3%
On a global scale, the 25 hotspots are mostly located in the ____
tropics
The intact habitats of those in the 25 hotspots represent just ____ of land’s surface but they support more than ____ of the world’s plant species as endemics
2.5%, half
The hotspots in the tropics comprise nearly ___ of birds, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species as _____
43%, endemics
4 criteria used for the “hottest hotspot”
- Numbers of endemics (plants/vertebrates)
- Endemic species/area
- Ratios for both plants and vertebrates
- Rate of habitat loss
2 Reasons why Biodiversity hotspots matter
- Biodiversity underpins all life on Earth
2. Biodiversity hotspots serves as natural habitats of human civilization
How does biodiversity underpins all life on Earth? (3)
- Loss of species would mean no air to breathe
- No food to eat, no water to drink
- No human society will succeed
How do biodiversity hotspots serve as a natural habitat for human civilization? (2)
- Hotspots are among the richest and most important ecosystems
- Home to many vulnerable populations who are directly dependent on nature
Hotspots make up ____ of the vital “ecosystem services” that vulnerable human populations rely upon
35%
Four ecosystem services provided by hotspots
- Climate stability
- Nutrient recycling and storage
- Pollution breakdown and absorption
- Protection of water resources
What are the 10 most threatened biodiversity hotspots
- Atlantic Forest
- Polynesia
- Cerado
- Himalaya
- Cape Floral Region
- Coastal Forest
- Mesoamerica
- Indo-Burma-Myanmar
- Philippines
- Madrean-Pine Oak Woodlands
What are the four countries that the Atlantic Forest covers?
- Brazil
- Paraguay
- Argentina
- Uruguay
How many plant species are in the Atlantic Forest?
20,000
How many species on Atlantic Forest are endemic
8,000 species
How large is the original cover of the Atlantic forest?
1.2 million square km
How large is the remaining cover of the Atlantic forest?
100,000 square kilometers
What are the three threats to the cover of Atlantic forest?
- Coffee plantation
- Cattle ranching
- Urbanization
What are the two regions that Polynesia covers? (2)
- Micronesia
2. South Pacific Ocean
Area of Polynesia
41,285 square km
What are the four biomes in Polynesia?
- Coastal wetlands
- Coral atolls
- Savannas
- TRF
Polynesia is famously known for being?
Epicenter of the present global extinction crisis
How many endemic bird species are present in Polynesia?
90
How many bird species in Polynesia had become extinct in 2 centuries?
25
Two threats to the population of bird species in Polynesia
- Invasive species
2. Overhunting
In what country is Cerrado located?
Brazil
Reputation of Cerrado Brazil
Largest woodland savannah in South America
How many are the threatened bird species in Cerrado?
10
How many are the threatened endemic plant species in Cerrado?
4,400
3 threatened fauna species in Cerrado
- Armadillo
- Jaguar
- Giant anteater
How large is the remaining cover of Cerrado?
450,000 square kilometers
2 Threats in biodiversity of Cerrado
- Agriculture
2. Animal farming
6 Countries covered by Himalaya
- Nepal
- Bhutan
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Myanmar
- China
Area of Himalaya
More than 185,427 square kilometers
4 Natural landscapes in Himalayas
- Alluvial grasslands
- Mountains
- Subtropical broadleaf forests
- Alpine meadows
Fraction of remaining natural landscapes in Himalaya
1/4