Biodiversity hotspots are areas with high levels of endemic species that are under threat. They cover only 1.4% of the Earth's land but contain over 40% of plant species and 35% of animal species. Most hotspots are located in the tropics where optimal conditions exist for growth and diversity. While hotspots have helped protect threatened biodiversity, they leave many ecosystems uncovered and do not address threats facing areas outside their criteria.

1. HOMEWORK
• Complete the A3 sheet

2. What patterns exist in the global
distribution of Biodiversity?

3. Biodiversity
is greatest in
the tropics
Biodiversity is generally
greatest in the southern
hemisphere
Seventy per cent of the world's
species is found in just 12
countries: Australia, Brazil, China,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador,
India, Indonesia, Madagascar,
Mexico, Peru and Democratic
Republic of Congo
Biodiversity
is low where
there are
climatic
extremes
Mark these
features on your
top map!
Tropical Rainforests
only cover 7% of
earths surface yet
contain high levels of
biodiversity

4. A biodiversity hotspot is an area containing a
huge number of species, a large percentage of
which are endemic. Hotspots have been
described as ‘the most remarkable places on
Earth and the most threatened’.
I.e. threatened areas are ‘hotspots’
Video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqUdcW_uNMo

6. Species
richness
Endemic
richness
Level of
threat to
species
Biodiversity
hotspot

7. • Continental Hotspots
• Large Island Hotspots
• Small Island Hotspots
• Marine Hotspots
ATLANTIC FOREST
AUSTRALIA
MADAGASCAR
CORAL REEF

8. Initially 25 terrestrial hotspots.
Recently updated to include
marine hotspots. Now 34
hotspot areas identified.
Terrestrial hotspots cover approximately
1.4% of the earth’s surface. Together they
contain 44% of the world’s plants and 35%
of the world’s animal species
Marine hotspots are essentially coral
reef areas in the tropics (contain 24%
of world’s coral reefs yet cover
0.017% of oceans)
Terrestrial and marine hotspots are
often adjacent to each other e.g.
Caribbean
The location of
hotspots does not
correlate exactly
with the location of
greatest biodiversity.
E.g. France does not
have a particularly
high biodiversity but
yet its southern
shores are part of
the Mediterranean
Basin Hotspot.

9. Limiting Factors: The tropical distribution
of both types of hotspot is due to an
absence of limiting factors which allows
maximum primary productivity. In the
tropics high temperatures, high humidity,
abundant rainfall, and plentiful nutrients
all encourage rapid growth of rainforests
and reefs
‘Pivotal Areas’ exist
where a large number
of hotspots exist,
important due to
variety of species. E.g.
Indonesia
Altitude: rapid
change in
temp / rainfall
over short
distance
produces
many different
ecosystems all
with different
species.
Size and age
Some areas have
been undisturbed
for centuries and
therefore contain
a high endism
value. E.g.
Amazon
Endemism: unique species have evolved on
islands. E.g. Lemur in Madagascar here
Perfect conditions for
growth: essentially
close to the equator
where heat, light and
moisture are always
available and
seasonality is minimal;
conditions maximise
biomass and
stratification
producing a wide
range of niches and
continual growth.

10. 1. Has ensured that the ‘best bits’- areas with the highest
levels of biodiversity, substantial levels of endemism
(unique/rare species) are conserved and protected.
2. Areas under threat are commonly in the tropics and in
developing countries where conservation costs are much
lower (cheap labour) – idea of value for money.
3. Hotspots now covers marine area under threats in addition
to terrestrial ecosystems

11. 1. Even with the additions of marine hotspots under 2% of the earth
and 0.017% of oceans are protected by this approach
2. The distribution of areas protected is very uneven. Most
hotspots lie in the tropics e.g. rainforests. Many ecosystems such as
Tundra, Taiga and Temperate Forest are not included.
3. Huge areas of the world are not covered including many areas
under great threat e.g. Arctic Ocean, or many outstanding smaller
regions such as Galapagos . These are not protected because they
do not meet all three criteria to be a hot spot. Polar bears
subsequently face extinction.
4. Hotspots tend to follows protectionist approach. This entails
removing people and their activities from areas under threat. This
has occurred in tropical countries where indigenous people have been
forced off their land in favour of creating big reserves.

12. Where in the world?

16. Intensification of agriculture, destroys natural habitat.

17. 7,700 plant species,
70% of them are
endemic

21. Plants well suited
to drought and
unusual geology.

30. Your Turn!
• Create a Dummies Guide to The Location of
Biodiversity Hotspots.
• You will need to
– Define Hotspots
– Assess their merit (i.e. positives and negatives)
– Add in a case study of a hotspot (Cape Floral
Kingdom Hot Spot, South Africa)

31. Dummies Guide to Hotspots
What is a hotspot?
Where are they in the world?
CASE STUDY: Cape Floral Kingdom Hot Spot
Pros Cons