Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo- Burma regions as hotspots of biodiversity: 1. Species richness 2. Vegetation density 3. Endemism 4. Ethno-botanical importance 5. Threat perception 6. Adaptation of flora and fauna to warm and humid conditions Which three of the above are correct criteria in this context?

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YESPYQ · Accepted Answer

Correct answer: 1, 3 and 5. Biodiversity Hotspot are regions with high species richness and a high degree of endemism. In 1988, the British bi- ologist Norman Myers coined the term “biodiversity hotspot” as a biogeographic region characterized both by exceptional lev- els of plant endemism and by serious levels of habitat loss and provided certain qualifications for a hotspot. Options 1, 3 and 5 are correct: In 1989, Conservation Inter- national (CI) adopted Myers’ hotspots as its institutional mod- el. Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma Region meets the Myers’ criterion to qualify as Biodiversity Hotspot:  Species richness and endemism is one of the major criteria which must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world’s total) as endemics.  ‘Degree of Threat’ is also a major criteria for the recognition of biological hotspots. It has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat. (It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation). In other words, it must be threatened. Options 2, 4 and 6 are incorrect: Vegetation density, ethno-bo-

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