Biodiversity hotspots in India

 

Biodiversity hotspots in India

Biodiversity is referred to as the variation of plant and animal species in a particular habitat. Species evenness and species richness form the major components of biodiversity. India is known for its rich biodiversity and has around 24.46% of the geographical area covered by forests and trees. The term “Biodiversity hotspots” was coined by Norman Myers. It can be defined as the regions which are known for their high species richness and endemism.

According to International Conservation , a region must fulfill the following two criteria to qualify as a hotspot:

  1. The region should have at least 1500 species of vascular plants i.e., it should have a high degree of endemism.
  2. It must contain 30% (or less) of its original habitat, i.e. it must be threatened.

Following the criteria must for an area to be declared as Biodiversity Hotspot, there are major four out of 36 biodiversity hotspots of the world located in India  biodiversity hotspots in India:

  1. The Himalayas
  2. Indo-Burma Region
  3. The Western Ghats
  4. Sundaland

The Himalaya Hotspot

Considered the highest in the world, the Himalayas  comprises North-East India, Bhutan, Central and Eastern parts of Nepal. This region (NE Himalayas) holds a record of having 163 endangered species which includes the Wild Asian Water Buffalo, One-horned Rhino; and as many as 10,000 plant species, of which 3160 are endemic. This mountain range covers nearly 750,000 km2. Himalaya Hotspot endowed with the world highest mountain  peak(Mt. Everest) which is  higher than 8,000 meters . The Himalayan Hotspot creates a diversity of ecosystems that contain alluvial grassland ,subtropical broadleaf forests along the foothills ,temperate broadleaf forests in the mid-hills. It has Mixed conifer and conifer forests in the higher ranges. Himalayan Mountains ranges have Alpine meadows above the tree line. The famous western Tragopan & Snow leopard  are mainly seen in this area.


There are an estimated 10,000 species of plants in this hotspot with about 3,160 endemics. The large scale family of flowering plants in this hotspot is the Orchidaceae having 750 species. Despite these harsh climate, there is evidence of vascular plants occurring at some of the highest elevations on Earth

Five plant families that are endemic to Himalaya hotspot are 

§  Tetracentraceae 

§  Hamamelidaceae

§  Circaesteraceae

§  Butomaceae

§  Stachyuraceae. 

 

. 

Indo – Burma Hotspot Region

The Indo-Burma Region is stretched over a distance of 2,373,000 km². The Large-antlered Muntjac,  the Annamite Muntjac, the Grey-shanked Douc, the Annamite Striped Rabbit, the Leaf Deer, and the Saola.are seen in this area. This hotspot is also known for the endemic freshwater turtle species, most of which are threatened with extinction, due to over-harvesting and extensive habitat loss. There are also 1,300 different bird species, including the threatened White-eared Night-heron, the Grey-crowned Crocias, and the Orange-necked Partridge.

A wide diversity of ecosystems found in this hotspot includes mixed wet evergreen ,dry evergreen ,deciduous & montane forests , mangroves & seasonally inundated grasslands. The biological diversity in the Indo-Burma hotspot is a result of the interaction of topography, past climate changes, characteristics of soil, and the patterns of seasonal rainfall. An estimate of total plant diversity in the Indo-Burma hotspot reveals about 13,500 species of vascular plants from which 7,000 (52%) are endemic. Among other flora of the Indo-Burma Hotspot are wide varieties of orchid and ginger species.








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