The tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot spans 1,542,664 square kilometers across western South America. It contains the world's richest flora, with over 30,000 plant species, 15,000 of which are endemic to the region. The tropical Andes also have the highest levels of endemism for amphibians, with 673 of 981 species being found nowhere else. However, the region faces numerous threats to its biodiversity, including mining, oil exploration, urban growth, and climate change.

1. Tropical andes
Brianna Andrekovich
period 3
biodiversity hotspots

2. tropical andes
one of the most diverse and rich regions on earth
around 7% of vascular plants are endemic to the
tropical andes
largest variety of amphibians in the world-664 species
plant diversity is greater here than any other hotspot
world leader in plant endemism of species found
nowhere else on earth

3. tropical andes cont.
spans 1,542,664 km2
world’s richest flora
puna and parámo grasslands go from cloud forests to
the snow line- very diverse and contatinting around
800 species
snowcapped peaks, steep slopes, deep canyons,
isolated valleys

4. tropical andes hotspot
0.8 % of earth’s land is represented by this hotspot
west-extends down to an elevation of 1,000 meters
east-reaches down to 500 meters in elevation
contains deepest gorge in the world
3,223 meter deep canyon

5. plants
30,000 to 35,000 species of vascular plants (10% of all
species)
unique species is the andean bromeliad-takes 100 yrs
to mature
andean bromelilad
parajubaea- biggest palm on earth
podocarpus

6. threatened/endangered animals
yellow-eared parrot
yellow-tailed woolly monkey
spectacled bear
blue-billed curassow
garlepps mouse
tree boa

7. threats
mining •growth of cities
invasive species
timber extraction •hydroelectric dams
pathogenic chytrid fungus-B
oil exploration •dendrobatidies
dendrobatidies
narcotics plantations
•dendrobatidies
dendrobatidies

8. animal percentages of endemism
plants- 30,000 species, 15,000 endemic (50%)
mammals-570 species, 75 endemic (13%)
birds-1,724 species, 579 endemic (34)
reptiles-610 species, 275 endemic (45%)
amphibians-981 species, 673 endemic (69%)
freshwater fish-380 species, 131 endemic (35%)

10. http://www.conservation.org/where/priority_areas/hotspots/south_america/Tropical-Andes/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.eoearth.org/article/Biological_diversity_in_the_Tropical_Andes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Andes
http://www.cepf.net/where_we_work/regions/south_america/tropical_andes/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&safe=strict&client=firefox-a&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US
%3Aofficial&biw=1280&bih=593&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=tropical+andes&btnG=