Biodiversity Hotspots

1
Biodiversity Hotspots

• The most remarkable places on Earth are also the
  most threatened.

2
Definition

• Contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants
  
• Has lost at least 70 percent of its original
  habitat.

3
Causes

• Unsustainable Consumption in northern countries
• Extreme poverty in Tropics

4
Biodiversity Hot-Spots
The hotspots represent an opportunity to help
conserve the diversity of life on earth
5
The List

• These 34 hot spots account for 2.3 of the
  Earths land area, yet over 50 of Earths plants
  and 40 of its land vertebrates.

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The List (cont.)

• North and Central America
• California Floristic Province
• Caribbean Islands
• Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands 
• Mesoamerica

7
The List (cont.)

• South America
• Atlantic Forest
• Cerrado
• Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests  
• Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena
• Tropical Andes

8
The List (cont.)

• Africa
•  Cape Floristic Region
•  Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa
•   Eastern Afromontane
•   Guinean Forests of West Africa
•  Horn of Africa
•   Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands
•   Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany
•   Succulent Karoo

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A Few Helpful Definitions

• Unique - Applying exclusively to an area.
• Endemic - Native to a certain region.
• Keystone species - central supporting element of
  a whole ecosystem removal may have far reaching
  consequences.
• Terrestrial On land.