Biodiversity Hotspots Essay

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The most interesting thing that I have learned about Biological Geography this semester is biodiversity hotspots. Before taking this class I had no clue what biodiversity hotspots where and how big of a role they play on humans. Biodiversity hotspot is biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that it is under threat from humans. The idea of biodiversity first was introduced by Norman Myers and many scientist have contributed on this idea.
Myers laid out several foundation of what has to occur in order for a geographical region to be considered a hotspot. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot 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. In 2000, there were 25 biodiversity hotspots and possible 9 more were on the verge of becoming a hotspot. Some of these hotspots are Atlantic forest and tropical rain forest found in South America, Caribbean islands and Mesoamerica found in North America and Central America, Mediterranean Basin...

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