Question

Which one of the following is a global biodiversity hotspot in India?
A.Western Ghats
B.Western Himalayas
C.Eastern Ghats
D.Northern Himalayas

Answer 1

Hint: India hosts four biodiversity hotspots which have numerous endemic species. The answer of this question aso has an alternate name which goes by Sahyadri range.

Complete answer: Western ghats is the correct answer. Western Ghats of Sahyadri range is the latest addition onto the Indian biodiversity list.
Biodiversity is collection of various flora and fauna or plants or animals. Biodiversity Hotspot on the other hand is a region which is a prime location for the existence of very rich biodiversity which faces a threat of destruction. This pace needs constant and immediate attention for future survival. There are about a total of 35 biodiversity hotspots identified which are majorly found in tropical forests. Biodiversity hotspots comprise around 50% of the world's most common plant species and 42% of terrestrial vertebrates. About 86% of the habitats are on the verge of extinction due climate change and human intervention threats.
For a region to be called hotspots, there are two must including factors -
-The region must have at least 1500 species of vascular plants.
-It must have lost more than 70% of original habitat.
India is a country rich in biological diversity having 2 out of 35 biodiversity hotspots in the whole world. Third one lies in the Indo Burma region partially in North East India. There are 350 mammasmaking 7.6% of world species, 1224 birds, 197 amphibians, 408 reptiles, 2546 fishes and 15000 flowering plants.

Therefore, Option A is the correct answer.

Note: Sri Lanka is considered as biodiversity hotspots of South Asia. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka regions have climatic, ecological and evolutionary similarities.