At the equator. Coincidentally, the hotspot map overlays extraordinarily on the map of the natural regions that benefit people the most. The research suggests that biodiversity hotspots – such as the Daintree Rainforest in Australia and the Cloud Forests of Ecuador – are teeming with species because they have been ecologically stable for long periods of time, allowing evolution to forge ahead undisturbed. The Cerrado is the name of the greatest woodland savannah in South America. Because most coral reef species are more widely distributed than rain forest species, they may be less prone to extinction by the destruction of a single locality. In spite of the shrinking area, researchers still discover new species, including the Annamite striped rabbit and the large-antlered muntjac. Of the 9,000 different plant species, about 6,200 are endemic. Without plants, there would be no oxygen. Additionally, most of the species still found alive cannot grow enough to reproduce, "a clear sign that the biodiversity collapse will further continue," says Albano. The 5 Major Threats for Biodiversity Loss. Learn what you can do to play your part. This is true not just for people, but for all life forms on earth. At the equator. Even though the area has shrunk severely over the past few decades, it still provides shelter to large populations of wild water buffalo, tigers, elephants and vultures. Researchers have discovered why the tropics and a handful of other areas across the globe have become the most biodiverse places on the planet. Biodiversity is greater inside the world’s protected areas, scientists have been able to show for the first time. 1. The biodiversity hotspot concept first appeared in an article written by the scientist Norman Myers in 1988. The research set out to find an answer by focusing on the Cape Floristic Region in South Africa, a non-tropical heartland of biodiversity with around ten times as many native plant species as the UK, squeezed into an area a little smaller than Belgium. All Rights Reserved. Other benefits of biodiversity are even more fundamental. One of the most famous of these biodiversity hotspots is Madagascar, an island country with an extremely high rate of endemism (species unique to that location). They also boast almost 43 percent of endemic bird, reptile, mammal, and amphibian species. Biodiversity is the amazing variety of life on Earth. 22.01.10. b) 100 million. The Philippines hotspot is one of the richest regions in biodiversity, including more than 7,100 islands in the Pacific Ocean. Biodiversity loss, also called loss of biodiversity, a decrease in biodiversity within a species, an ecosystem, a given geographic area, or Earth as a whole. Senior author, Dr. Richard Cowling from Nelson Mandela University, added: “The extraordinary diversity of the Cape Floristic Region – as rich as the most diverse tropical forest regions – contradicts the long-held theory that high productivity is a requisite for high plant diversity. With most of Earth's biodiversity still unidentified by science, the tree of life is far from finished. c) Australia. | Powered by WordPress, 10 Eco Resorts That Set the New Earth-Friendly Standard, #1: Atlantic Forest – Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, #9: Polynesia-Micronesia, Southern Pacific Ocean. A large proportion of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity at the species level is concentrated in a small part of the world, mostly in the tropics. The Himalaya hotspot may just be the most widespread of them all, covering China, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. More than 25 species in the forest are critically endangered. Credit: Colin Beale. However, if we look only at terrestrial biomes, tropical rainforests have the greatest biodiversity. Amazing discoveries: 1200 new species found in the Amazon. Insects are found on land, in water and in air in nearly all habitats and all continents including Antarctica. In general, diversity tends to decrease as one moves away from the equator and towards the poles. All living things exist within their own communities, or ecosystems - oceans, forests, deserts, ice caps and even cities. Although they cover a small area - less than 2% of Earth's surface - rainforests are home to about half the life on Earth. found in a particular location and nowhere else; fully 25% of Hawaiian coral species are endemic to the area (Pacific Whale Foundation 2003). The study found that conservation action does work: in the first analysis of its kind, researchers found that the global biodiversity decline would have … And due to the threat posed to the places on Earth where the most biodiversity exists, hotspots have become even more pivotal to human survival. So… But the most species aren’t described yet. A common measure of this variety, called species richness, is the count of species in an area. Even though forests and other fragmented habitats in hotspots represent just 2.3 percent of Earth’s land surface, they represent one of the most important part of the planet. All of the Earth’s species work together to survive and maintain their ecosystems. Mountain regions—especially those in the tropics—are hotspots of extraordinary and baffling biodiversity, according to new research. Discover the most diverse countries in the world. 15 Most Endangered Species on Earth Our planet, Earth, hosts more than 30 million animal species. “Exceptions often clarify the rule and our research shows that the environmental history of a place is important to its levels of biodiversity. RELATED: [Coniferous Forest Biome – Why They Are Important]. There are only 35 such regions, called biodiversity hotspots. ... “I found it incredibly exciting as the first visible effects of major evolutionary events started to emerge,” Hoyal Cuthill says. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Rhodes Drive, Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa. There are more than 378 species of mammals, 828 species of birds, 300 different lizards, 140 species of snakes, etc. Most plants in a biodiversity hotspot are endemic, meaning they are not found anywhere else on Earth. Life began there. Biodiversity loss, also called loss of biodiversity, a decrease in biodiversity within a species, an ecosystem, a given geographic area, or Earth as a whole. Habitat loss and human activities, in general, have posed a high risk on these green spots. Dr. Curtis Suttle, professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia presented a stunning perspective during a talk when he stated, “In a liter of coastal seawater, there are more viruses … This will be the most comprehensive and ambitious biodiversity protection framework in history and aims to do for biodiversity protection what the Paris Agreement on Climate Change did for climate action. Sarah Zhang July 12, 2017 To understand this requires looking at the attributes that allow living organisms as well as viruses to thrive. The findings highlight the threat posed by climate change to some of the most extraordinary places on earth and the importance of giving nature the protection it needs to thrive, the authors of the study say. The Amazon rainforest is the most biologically diverse place on Earth. The international team of researchers – including scientists from the University of York (UK), Nelson Mandela University and the University of Cape Town – mapped the distributions of nearly all of the region’s 9400 plant species, from the king protea to the red disa. Habitat to 6,000 endemic plant species and numerous of bird species, the hotspot attracts eco-tourists who wish to see the Cebu flowerpecker and the Philippine eagle. Similarly, near major ecological boundaries, such as forest to grasslands or shrublands to semi-desert, climate change is likely to cause major, long-lasting loss of biological diversity.”. Greenandgrowing.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Unfortunately, no less than 25 bird species became extinct in the past 200 years, due to invasive species and overhunting. Allow us to introduce you to the unique country of Colombia. Below is the most bio-diverse country. d) 59 million . Costa Rica consists of only .03 of the world’s landmass, yet it consists of 5% of the earth’s biodiversity. The conservation of the world's biodiversity is thus utterly dependent on the way in which we interact with and use the world's forests. Biodiversity also describes ecosystems or environments that contain a high degree of this variation — for example, the Amazon rainforest. The forked watsonia. Rare Star’s Giant Gamma-Ray Burst GRB 204015A Captured Close to Our Home Galaxy Earth gets blasted by mild short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) most days. Like amphibians, insect species richness is greatest in tropical latitudes. Latin America and Caribbean has seen the most loss, with a 94% drop in average species populations, while Africa comes in second with a 65% drop.. Most of the Earth’s surface is ocean. Conserving the species residing there will have a colossal impact in protecting the global biodiversity. The rivers and lagoons found within the park are home to the spectacled caiman, American crocodile and bull sharks. Lake Victoria contained almost 500 species of cichlids alone, ignoring the other fish families present in the lake. They found that the region’s richness could be largely explained by the fact it had not experienced major changes in its climate over the past 140,000 years. The hardwood trees in the rainforests that are our most effective above-ground carbon sinks are also the … We can conserve most of life on Earth by protecting the most exceptional ecosystems and habitats. While the rate of loss varies across regions, WWF has identified five major threats that are linked to drops in species populations across all regions:. Ecuador: Yasuni - the most biodiverse place on Earth? It forms the web of life, of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend. 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The amount of available energy or productivity is also thought to contribute to diversity, and tropical rainforests have a large amount of both. Species richness is the most common metric used in ecology. The grasslands biomes are considered to have more biodiversity, but only grasses, wildflowers, and a few trees have adapted to its strong winds, seasonal droughts, and annual fires. A highland area, this hotspot initially covered more than 461,000 square km across Mexico and southern U.S. A thriving, diverse ecosystem provides many benefits to humans. The forests suffered due to excessive logging, reducing them to a fifth of their original size. Areas with extremely high levels of biodiversity are called hotspots. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On some tropical coral reefs, for example, there can be 1,000 species per m². Endangered species are found throughout the world. It upholds some 4,400 endemic plant species, as well as some of the most fascinating animal species. — In the study, tropical flora was assessed across the continent. At the equator sufficient rain fall, temperature, etc., favour luxuriant growth of the biodiversity. These are Earth’s most biologically rich—yet threatened—terrestrial regions. So what can we do about it? Places … This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. There are currently 36 recognized biodiversity hotspots. Earth’s biodiversity is the very basis for our own survival. -  Designed by Thrive Themes But…. Although they account for just 2.3 percent of Earth’s land surface, they support over half of the world’s endemic plant species. As an ecosystem, the Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. The diversity of plants and animals in Earth's arctic regions is moderate. Q-31. Human interference is also minimum … Ocean acidification may render most regions of the ocean inhospitable to coral reefs, affecting tourism, food security, shoreline protection, and biodiversity. Australia is an interesting case of mega-biodiversity as it is one of two developed countries in the list. It upholds some 4,400 endemic plant species, as well as some of the most fascinating animal species. Without the many species living out there, we wouldn’t have air to breathe, water to drink, or food to eat. Today, the Cerrado covers less than 450,000 square km, down from more than 2 million square km. c) 40 million. Caribbean Islands Hotspot- This Island Hotspot comprises of 30 nations and territories as Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgi… If provided, your email will not be published or shared. Many different reasons are in “Our study shows that the environmental stability of south-western South Africa, in conjunction with the region’s rugged topography, explains diversity gradients in the region. The Amazon rainforest is the most biologically diverse place on Earth. The South American nation is the most biodiverse country on earth by area, and second overall behind the much larger Brazil. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Rhodes Drive, Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa. For example, howler monkeys can be found in the rainforests of Brazil, northern Argentina, and Bolivia. The loss and degradation of biodiversity negatively affects every level of the planet. At the equator sufficient rain fall, temperature, etc., favour luxuriant growth of the biodiversity. However, the word “Biodiversity” is relatively new, and is thought to have first been coined as a contraction of the term “biological diversity” in 1985 and then popularised by a number of authors1. Stemming this crisis starts with protecting the biodiversity spots. Forests harbour most of Earth's terrestrial biodiversity. It is virtually synonymous with “Life on earth”. Biodiversity: Biodiversity is the variety and differences among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part. But why might this be? The hotspot provides habitat for 8,000 endemic plant species and around 950 birds. In fact, tropical rainforests support the greatest biodiversity on Earth. It even surpasses the plant density in the Amazon! Recent analysis from The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has concluded that the UK has fallen severely short on its UN biodiversity objectives that were put forth a decade ago at the Convention of Biological Diversity in Japan. We can’t pay Biodiversity, but it does stimulate the economy and help us get a better understanding of that thing. But marine life accounts for only 15 percent of the world’s species. All life on Earth hangs on biodiversity. Earth’s Biodiversity Bursts Do Not Follow Expected Pattern. Situated in the Western Cape, this hotspot boasts the highest concentration of plant species per square kilometer in the world. 22.01.10. The level just broader is species diversity, which best fits the literal translation of biodiversity: the number of different species in a particular ecosystem or on Earth. Latin America and Caribbean has seen the most loss, with a 94% drop in average species populations, while Africa comes in second with a 65% drop.. Between 1999 and 2009, 1200 species of plants and vertebrates were identified for the first time. The biodiversity quiz is having multiple choice answers, participant must select the correct one either by tick it or circle it. According to experts, this is not surprising, given that hotspots represent the richest and most paramount ecosystems in the world. The biodiversity we see today is the result of 4.5 billion years of evolution and, increasingly, of human influence as well. Thank You. This tremendous diversity is due to a few factors, some of which are still debated. It encompasses diversity on many levels; the vast number of species of plants and animals, the genetic diversity within and between these species and the different biomes and ecosystems of which they are part, including rainforest, tundra and desert. ‘Voices for Nature’ highlights initiatives and commitments for protecting the rich tapestry of life on planet earth. But what are these biodiversity hotspots and where are they? Human interference is also minimum at this place compared to the other places of Northern Hemisphere. For the survival of humanity, we should learn to protect them. Tropical rainforests are found right around the equator. “This rich resource enabled us to pull together an interdisciplinary team from South Africa and the UK to tackle one of the most challenging questions in ecology and highlights how important international collaborations are to the future success of South African research and the conservation of its biodiversity.”, Reference: “Plant richness, turnover, and evolutionary diversity track gradients of stability and ecological opportunity in a megadiversity center” by Jonathan F. Colville, Colin M. Beale, Félix Forest, Res Altwegg, Brian Huntley and Richard M. Cowling, 5 August 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Coral reefs are the nurseries of the oceans, they are biodiversity hot spots. The Cerrado is the name of the greatest woodland savannah in South America. While biomes with low biodiversity tend to be inhospitable to most life, the biome with the highest biodiversity is inhospitable to most human settlement. d) Bahammas. The giant armadillo, giant anteater, and jaguar are amongst the mammals living in this biodiversity hotspot. However, a number of those species are at a risk of extinction due to man’s intervention for consumption or entertainment. What determines global patterns of biodiversity has been a puzzle for scientists since the days of von Humboldt, Darwin, and Wallace. Nearly 4,000 endemic plant species exist here, but the hotspot is popular for the millions of colorful monarch butterflies migrating through the region each year. Of all the known species in the world, 10% are in the Amazon rainforest. Ecuador: Yasuni - the most biodiverse place on Earth? But the number of howler monkeys in each rainforest differs and this describes their species richness in each rainforest. 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