1. Biodiversity hotspots are located only in tropical regions.
2. India has four biodiversity hotspots i.e., Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Biodiversity hotspot concept is promoted by Conservation international. Each biodiversity hot spot represents a remarkable universe of extraordinary floral and faunal endemicity struggling to survive in rapidly shrinking ecosystems. To qualify as a hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria:
Species endemism: It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world’s total) as endemics, and Degree of threat: It has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat. Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect:
Biodiversity hotspots aren’t limited to tropical regions; examples include the Mediterranean Basin and California Floristic Province. While India is home to significant biodiversity but it has only three recognized hotspots. These hotspots are the Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Western Himalayas are not considered as a separate biodiversity hotspot.