Biodiversity hotspots. (Chart-Reading Activity).Biodiversity hotspots A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is threatened with destruction. The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originated by Dr. are regions in which huge concentrations of life forms live but face extreme habitat loss. Many species that inhabit hotspots are endemic, or found nowhere else on Earth. In the table below, you'll find data about four hotspots: The Tropical Andes The Tropical Andes is a biodiversity hotspot designated by Conservation International which covers several montane and ecoregions along the northern and central Andes range of South America, extending across portions of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and (mountainous moun·tain·ous adj. 1. Having many mountains. 2. Resembling a mountain in size; huge: mountainous waves. mountainous Adjective 1. rainforests that run through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia) is the planet's most biodiverse hotspot. The rainforests of far western Colombia and Ecuador have the highest amphibian amphibian, in zoology amphibian, in zoology, cold-blooded vertebrate animal of the class Amphibia. There are three living orders of amphibians: the frogs and toads (order Anura, or Salientia), the salamanders and newts (order Urodela, or Caudata), and the biodiversity biodiversity: see biological diversity. biodiversity Quantity of plant and animal species found in a given environment. Sometimes habitat diversity (the variety of places where organisms live) and genetic diversity (the variety of traits expressed , while Caribbean rainforests abound in endemic reptiles reptiles terrestrial or aquatic vertebrates which breathe air through lungs and have a skin covering of horny scales. They are poikilothermic, oviparous or ovoviviparous, and, if they have legs they are short and constructed solely for crawling. . Mesoamerica, the land bridge between North and South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , is spectacularly biodiverse because the region has both lowland rainforest and high-altitude cloud forest cloud forest n. A tropical forest, often near peaks of coastal mountains, that usually has constant cloud cover throughout the year. cloud forest . Directions: Use the data table to answer the questions below. 1. What's the total number of amphibian, reptile, and mammal mammal, an animal of the highest class of vertebrates, the Mammalia. The female has mammary glands, which secrete milk for the nourishment of the young after birth. species in the Tropical Andes hotspot? In Mesoamerica? The Caribbean? Western Columbia/Ecuador? 2. Which hotspot has the greatest number of species? The most endemic species? 3. Which hotspot has the most endemic birds? The fewest? 4. Which has the fewest endemic mammals? The fewest and the most total mammal species? Don't Stop Now: Use the species data from the table above a bar graph showing the total number of species and number of endemic species each hotspot. ANSWERS CHART-READING activity P. TE6 1. Tropical Andes: 3,389; Mesoamerica: 2,859; The Caribbean: 1,518; Western Colombia/Ecuador: 1,625 2. Greatest number of species: Tropical Andes; Most endemic species: Tropical Andes 3. Most endemic birds: Tropical Andes; Fewest endemic birds: Western Colombia/Ecuador 4. Fewest endemic mammals: caribbean rainforests; Fewest total mammal species: Caribbean rainforests; Most mammal species: Mesoamerica
Original Remaining
Hotspot Land Area Land Area
Tropical Andes 1,258,000 [km.sup.2] 314,500 [km.sup.2]
Mesoamerica 1,155,000 [km.sup.2] 231,000 [km.sup.2]
Caribbean 263,500 [km.sup.2] 29,840 [km.sup.2]
Western Colombia/
Ecuador 260,600 [km.sup.2] 63,000 [km.sup.2]
Amphibians: Reptiles: Birds: Mammals:
Total Total Total Total
number number number of number of
of Species/ of Species/ Species/ Species/
Endemic Endemic Endemic Endemic
Hotspot Species Species Species Species
Tropical Andes 830/604 479/218 1,666/677 414/68
Mesoamerica 460/307 685/391 1,193/251 521/210
Caribbean 189/164 497/418 668/148 164/49
Western Colombia/
Ecuador 350/210 210/63 830/85 235/60
Source: Biodiversity Hotspots, map, Conservation International, 2000
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