Question

What are 'Hot spots'? Define it.

Answer 1

The concept of hot spots was given by Norman Myers in 1988. Hot spots are the areas that are extremely rich in species diversity, have high endemism and are under constant threat. Among the 34 hotspots of the world, two are found in India extending into neighbouring countries- the Western Ghats and the Indo-Burma region covering Eastern Himalayas.

The criteria for determining a hotspot is:

1. The number of endemic species i.e. the species which are found nowhere else.

2. The degree of threat, which is measured in terms of habitat loss.