Question

Number of 'Biodiversity Hotspots' in the Word is

• A. 32
• B. 36
• C. 24
• D. 96

Hint:

Memorize the number 36 for global hotspots and 4 for the hotspots located within or overlapping with India's geographical boundaries.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
A Biodiversity Hotspot is a biogeographic region with exceptionally high levels of species endemism that is also threatened with habitat destruction.
To qualify as a hotspot, a region must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics and must have lost at least 70% of its original primary vegetation.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originally developed by British ecologist Norman Myers in 1988.
The organization Conservation International continuously reviews and updates the global list of hotspots based on scientific assessments of endemic species and threat levels.
While the initial assessments listed fewer hotspots (such as 25 or 34), the current internationally recognized count of biodiversity hotspots across the globe is 36.
These 36 hotspots represent just 2.4% of Earth's land surface but support more than half of the world's plant species as endemics and nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species.
India is home to four of these global biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the Indo-Burma region, and Sundaland (including the Nicobar group of islands).
Therefore, there are 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The total number of 'Biodiversity Hotspots' in the world is 36.