Question

Who coined the word biodiversity hotspot?

Answer 1

Biodiversity hotspot:

1. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), biodiversity typically measures variation at the genetic, the species, and the ecosystem level.
2. A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is threatened with destruction.
3. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot on Myers 2000 edition of the hotspot-map, a region must meet two strict criteria: it must contain at least 0.5% or 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics, and it has to have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation.
4. Around the world, 35 areas qualify under this definition. These sites support nearly 60% of the world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species, with a very high share of those species as endemics.
5. The biodiversity hotspots in India are as follows; The Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, The Eastern Himalayas.

Term coined by:

1. The term ‘biodiversity hotspot’ was given by Norman Myers in 1988.
2. He first identified 10 hotspots based on the high degree of endemism and habitat loss, i.e., the regions of richest biodiversity and most endangered.
3. Biodiversity, generally refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth.