Which of the following two criteria have to be met in order to qualify...
Ans: c
Explanation: A biodiversity hotspot is a bio-geographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans. The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originated by Norman Myers in two articles in “The Environmentalist”. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot on Myers 2000 edition of the hotspot-map, a region must meet two strict criteria: it must contain at least 0.5% or 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics, and it has to have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation.
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Which of the following two criteria have to be met in order to qualify...
In order to qualify as a biodiversity hotspot on the world hotspots map, two criteria need to be met:
1. The region must contain at least 0.5 percent or 1500 species of vascular plants as endemic species.
2. The region has to have lost at least 70 percent of its primary vegetation.
Let's discuss each criterion in detail:
1. The region must contain at least 0.5 percent or 1500 species of vascular plants as endemic species:
- Vascular plants refer to plants that have specialized tissues for conducting water, minerals, and nutrients throughout their structure.
- Endemic species are those that are found exclusively in a particular region and are not found naturally anywhere else in the world.
- To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, the region must have a high level of plant diversity, specifically with at least 0.5 percent or 1500 species of vascular plants considered as endemic species.
- This criterion ensures that the region has a significant level of plant biodiversity and uniqueness.
2. The region has to have lost at least 70 percent of its primary vegetation:
- Primary vegetation refers to the original, natural vegetation that existed before human activities or disturbances.
- Biodiversity hotspots are often areas that have experienced significant habitat loss and degradation due to human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture.
- To qualify as a hotspot, the region must have lost a substantial portion, at least 70 percent, of its primary vegetation.
- This criterion highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts in these areas to protect the remaining biodiversity and restore the degraded habitats.
By meeting both these criteria, a region can be considered a biodiversity hotspot. This designation is important as it helps prioritize conservation efforts and directs resources towards areas that are rich in biodiversity but also highly threatened. Biodiversity hotspots are crucial for preserving unique species, maintaining ecosystem functions, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our planet's natural resources.