Chapter 9. Chapter 9: Biodiversity

What are biodiversity hotspots and why are they important?

Why You Should Care

Biodiversity hotspots are parts of the world that have a particularly high level of biodiversity and endemism (having species that only occur in one area or a particular habitat that is itself rare). These areas are of high concern for all the reasons that you have already learned make biodiversity important, and because many of them are in areas with high human population density. Probably the most famous and emblematic example of an extinction from a biodiversity hotspot is the dodo. The dodo was a flightless bird related to the pigeon, the size of a medium-sized dog and that lived only on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean far off the coast of Madagascar. Within 80 years of Mauritius’s discovery by Europeans in the early 1600s, every last dodo had been eaten by sailors and the animals they brought with them. This was probably the first time that the possibility that a species could go extinct was contemplated by the Western world, and the dodo has entered our language in set phrases like "dead as a dodo" or "gone the way of the dodo," meaning dead, gone, and never to return.

3.

Which of the following is FALSE about endemic species?

A.

They are endemic to isolated terrestrial ecosystems such as mountains or islands.

B.

They are more likely to become threatened or endangered than non-endemic species.

C.

They are mostly generalist species that occupy wide niches.

D.

They are often located in tropical regions.

999

Try again.

Correct.

Incorrect.

4.

Examine the map above. Most biodiversity hotspots are:

A.

in the interior of continents.

B.

in temperate climates.

C.

near coastlines.

D.

in the Northern Hemisphere.

999

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Correct.

Incorrect.

5.

The largest individual hotspots are in:

A.

highly industrialized countries.

B.

temperate latitudes.

C.

the tropics.

999

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Correct.

Incorrect.

6.

Most of the smallest and most isolated hotspots are:

A.

islands.

B.

in developed countries.

C.

in temperate latitudes.

D.

in the interiors of continents.

999

Try again.

Correct.

Incorrect.

7.

Thought Question: Why are many biodiversity hotspots on islands?

Islands are isolated from the mainland and species have difficulty reaching them in large numbers. This means that a few species can end up evolving into new species that fill unoccupied niches.

8.

Thought Question: There is often tension between developed and developing countries about protecting biodiversity, especially if those developing countries contain hotspots. Can you predict why this is? Do you know any examples?

In general, developing countries consider it their right to develop as they see fit. Furthermore, they see developed countries, which have in the past all had policies that were not protective of biodiversity, to be hypocritical. As mentioned in the text, many developing tropical countries have strict customs laws that prevent the export of plants, animals, and other material out of their countries. This is to prevent biodiversity resources in their country from being used to profit firms in other countries.

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