Consider the following statements related to Biodiversity Hotspots: Ea...
The correct answer is option 'D' - None of the above.
Explanation:
1) Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats are biodiversity hotspots in India:
This statement is correct. The Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats are indeed recognized as biodiversity hotspots in India. Biodiversity hotspots are regions that are exceptionally rich in plant and animal species and are also highly threatened. These two regions in India have a high concentration of endemic species and face significant threats due to habitat loss and degradation.
2) The biodiversity hotspots are mostly confined to the tropical regions of the world:
This statement is incorrect. While many biodiversity hotspots are indeed located in tropical regions, they are not exclusively confined to them. Biodiversity hotspots can be found in various regions across the world, including temperate zones. For example, the Mediterranean Basin, which extends across Southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East, is also considered a biodiversity hotspot.
3) It represents regions that have experienced considerable habitat loss but not present changing land-use patterns:
This statement is incorrect. Biodiversity hotspots represent regions that have experienced considerable habitat loss and degradation, as well as changing land-use patterns. These regions are often subject to human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, agriculture expansion, and infrastructure development, which have led to the loss and fragmentation of natural habitats. The changing land-use patterns are a significant factor contributing to the threats faced by biodiversity hotspots.
In conclusion, statement 1 is correct, statement 2 is incorrect, and statement 3 is also incorrect. Therefore, the correct answer is option 'D' - None of the above.
Consider the following statements related to Biodiversity Hotspots: Ea...
Biodiversity Hotspots - Hotspots are the richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life of the earth. They have the maximum number of endemic species. They occupy 1.4% of the earth’s surface and 20% of the world’s human population lives in these areas. Currently, 35 biodiversity hotspots have been identified, most of which occur in tropical forests. India hosts 4 biodiversity hotspots: the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas, the Indo-Burma region and the Sundaland. So, statement (1) is correct. To qualify as a hot spot, a region must meet two strict criteria:
- Species endemism: the region must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world’s total) as endemics, and
- Degree of threat: the region has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat.
The biodiversity hotspots are mostly confined to the tropical regions of the world. One idea is that tropical regions harbour greater biodiversity because they are especially fertile grounds for forming new species i.e., “cradles of diversity.” Another idea is that biodiversity hotspots are less likely to lose the species they already have. So, statement (2) is correct. Biodiversity hotspots do not make allowances for changing land-use patterns. Hotspots represent regions with considerable habitat loss, but this does not mean they are experiencing ongoing habitat loss. So, statement (3) is correct. Therefore, the correct answer is d.
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