Biodiversity hotspots, areas with high numbers of endemic but endangered species, cover a small percentage of land and water areas but hold more than 40%-50% of all plant and vertebrate endemic animal species. Most hotspots are located in tropical biomes or in isolated terrestrial ecosystems, such as mountains or islands. Even small disturbances, such as a small farm plot or road that cuts through the area, can threaten endemic species that populate specialized niches in these hotspots.

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