Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of western Ghats, Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma regions as hotspots of biodiversity:

1. Species richness
2. Vegetation density
3. Endemism
4. Ethno-botanical importance
5. Threat perception
6. Adaptation of flora and fauna to warm and humid conditions

Which three of the above are correct criteria in this context?

1. 1, 2 and 6 only
2. 2, 4 and 6 only
3. 1, 3 and 5 only
4. 3, 4 and 6 only

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Biodiversity hotspots, as defined by British biologist Norman Myers, are biogeographic regions characterised by high species richness, a high degree of endemism, and sometimes severe levels of habitat loss. Conservation International (CI) adopted Myers’ hotspots, and in 1996, it undertook a reassessment of the hotspots concept.
  • Conservation International (CI) is an American non-profit environmental organisation working towards protecting nature for the benefit of people.
• According to CI, to qualify as a hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria:
  1. It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world’s total) as endemics – which is to say that it must have a high percentage of plant life found nowhere else on the planet. A hotspot, in other words, is irreplaceable.
  2. It must have lost at least 70% of its original habitat. (It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation). In other words, it must be threatened.
  3. In 1999, CI identified 25 biodiversity hotspots. Currently, 36 areas qualify as hotspots representing just 2.5% of the earth’s land surface. They support more than half of the world’s plant species as endemics and nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species as endemics.

• Himalaya: Includes the entire Indian Himalayan region of India and of Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, China, & Myanmar.
• Indo-Burma: Includes entire North-Eastern India, Andaman Group of Islands and Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and southern China.
• Sundalands: Includes Nicobar group of Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka.

Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 5 only | Difficulty Level: Easy