Question

Hotspots are characterized by
A. Their location
B. Number of endemic species with the extent of the threat to them
C. Developing and developed countries
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: A biodiversity hotspot can be defined as a biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity which is threatened by human habitation. The biodiversity hotspots have all their diverse ecosystems on just about 2.4% of the surface of the planet. However, the region which is defined as hotspots encloses a far larger portion of the land.

Complete answer: A biodiversity hotspot is defined as a biogeographic region with an immense reservoir of biodiversity which is under threat from humans. In Myers 2000 edition of the hotspot-map, a biodiversity hotspot is only the region which meets two strict criteria: 1. the region must contain a minimum of 0.5% or 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics. 2. It should have lost a minimum of 70% of its primary vegetation. Under this definition, 25 areas qualify as biodiversity hotspots around the world and nine other areas are possible candidates. These hotspot sites support about 60% of the total world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species, with a high share of various endemic species.
Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Additional Information: The original 25 hotspots covered 11.8% of the land expanse of the planet. Overall, the present hotspots cover over 15.7% of the land area but have lost around 85% of their habitat. This loss of habitat explains why approximately 60% of the world's terrestrial life lives on only 2.4% of the land expanse.

Note: Only a little percentage of the overall surface area within biodiversity hotspots is now protected. Various international organisations are continually working in numerous ways to conserve these biodiversity hotspots around the world. The central government of India has also created a novel authority named CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) to regulate the destruction of forests and biological spots in India.