Question

1 Biodiversity hotspots are biogeographic regions with significant levels of
biodiversity that are threatened by human activities and India is part of four such
Biodiversity hotspots. Discuss the role of various human activities that are a threat to
the biodiversity in these regions. Also, illustrate the importance of such ‘hotspots' in
conserving biodiversity. In a tabular format, compare the various types of ecosystems
(elaborating on biotic and abiotic components) that are found in Himalayan hotspot vs
those found in Western Ghatshotspot.
Nhi

Answer 1

The various role of human activities that are a threat to the biodiversity in these regions are :

• Deforestation - Cutting trees really affect our biodiversity and exploits it .
• Destruction of Habitat- humans destruct the various habitat for their use which really leads to the extinction of various species and loss of biodiversity.
• Pollution - pollution really harms the various species because of this they can be extinct too .
• Introduction of alien invasive - it cause the extinction of native species. For ex - Eichhornia (the plant exotic species) invaded to India which causes various environmental and biodiversity damage.

IMPORTANCE OF SUCH HOTSPOTS-

• It helps in preventing the biodiversity loss. Hotspots are made to give the special attention to the endemic species so by the help of hotspot we can protect them.

• It helps in preventing the habitat loss. It helps in preserving the floura and fauna .

• It helps in maintaining the balance in the ecosystem and brings the stability and resilience in the ecosystem.

Comparison of ecosystem found in Himalayan hotspot and in Western ghats hotspot -

Himalayan hotspot-

• This hotspot is home to the various population like large birds and mammals , which includes vultures ,tigers , elephants , rhinos and wild water buffalo.
• It has nearly 163 globally threatened species including the one -horned rhinoceros.
• It has diversity of ecosystems that range from alluvial grasslands
• and subtropical broadleaf forests to alpine meadows above the tree line.
• About 10,000 species of plants in the Himalaya hotspot, about 3,160 are endemic, as
• are 71 genra.(31.6%)

• It is an snowfall region.

Western ghats hotspots-

• It is the home for rich endemic plants , reptiles and amphibians .

• There are 6,000 vascular plant species (minimum)present in the Western Ghats, out of which more than 3,000 species are endemic.(i.e 52%)

• It is an rainfall region.