Biodiversity Hotspots

North and Central America

  1. California Floristic Province
  2. Caribbean Islands
  3. Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands
  4. Mesoamerica

South America

  1. Atlantic Forest
  2. Cerrado
  3. Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests
  4. Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena
  5. Tropical Andes

Europe and Central Asia

  1. Caucasus
  2. Irano-Anatolian
  3. Mediterranean Basin
  4. Mountains of Central Asia

Africa

  1. Cape Floristic Region
  2. Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa
  3. Eastern Afromontane
  4. Guinean Forests of West Africa
  5. Horn of Africa
  6. Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands
  7. Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany
  8. Succulent Karoo

Asia-Pacific

  1. East Melanesian Islands
  2. Himalaya
  3. Indo-Burma
  4. Japan
  5. Mountains of Southwest China
  6. New Caledonia
  7. New Zealand
  8. Philippines
  9. Polynesia-Micronesia
  10. Southwest Australia
  11. Sundaland
  12. Wallacea
  13. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka

Environmental Science

Biodiversity Hotspot Project

Task: In teams of 2, research one of the 34 Biodiversity Hotspots and create a powerpoint slideshow to present to the class about your Hotspot.

Due date: Presentations begin Tuesday, January 21st

Background Information:

Hotspots have resulted from unsustainable consumption in northern countries and massive poverty in the tropics destroying wild areas. Species are declining and disappearing. Extinction is the greatest and most significant aspect . . . . it is irreversible. Extinction is natural. Human impacts have elevated the rate of extinction one thousand to several thousand times the natural rate. Mass extinctions have occurred 5 times in the history of the planet. The last one brought an end to the Age of the Dinosaurs.

Identifying conservation priorities is crucial. Norman Meyers (British ecologist) defined the “Biodiversity Hotspot” concept in 1988. He tried to answer the question “What areas are most important to conserve?”. He began by collecting data on endemic species. Endemic species exist in high numbers in hotspots. Goal: Keep nature intact. We must stop anthropogenic species extinctions. Since 1988, 34 hotspots have been identified globally.

Endemic: native to or confined to a certain region; native; indigenous; belonging

exclusively or confined to a particular place.

Anthropogenic: pertaining to the effect of human beings on the natural world.

Hotspots are characterized by both exceptional levels of plant endemism and by serious levels of habitat loss. To qualify as a “Hotspot”, two strict criteria must be met: 1) contain at least 1,500 endemic species of vascular plants (> .5 percent of world’s total), and 2) to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat

Between them, Hotspots hold 150,000 plant species as endemics (50% of the world’s total) and 11,980 species of endemic terrestrial vertebrate species (42% of all vertebrate species). 22,022 terrestrial vertebrates call hotspots home (77% of the world’s total).

Components of this Project:

1)Content: Research – Sign up for one biodiversity hotspot(list on the back of this sheet).

  1. Start by going to this website: You must cite at least 4 additional websites, NOT including Wikipedia.

2)Powerpoint Slide Show: 10-15 slides (must include title slide with Hotspot name, both partner names, date and period.) Each person must create half of the slides. Put initials in lower corner of slide to indicate who created it. SAVE your final product to BOTH student accounts on the server at school.

3)Oral Presentation. Each person must explain half. Print one copy of slide show on paper, 6 slides to a page, to hand in. Be prepared to speak generally about what it’s like to be in your hotspot. Would you want to visit there? For each of the 8 species examples, be prepared to share some information about it orally (does not need to be on the slide).

4)Write 4 Questions About Your Hotspot. These should be about the big ideas and unique characteristics of your hotspot that the class should remember about your hotspot. Avoid questions about detailed numbers, statistics and minutia. Submit to teacheron January 16th

*turn in this rubric with your presentation

Biodiversity Hotspot Project RubricHotspot Name ______# ____

Student Name ______Student #______

Student Name ______Student #______

Slide show content(hand in a 6 slides/page printout)

______/5cover slide: Names, date, period, hotspot name, creativity

______/5maps(where in the world and close-up) and land area (Original extent, remaining extent)

______/10General climate and other distinguishing abiotic factors (ie. coastal, desert, hilly, rocky, lush, flat, etc.)

-Ecosystem pictures (landscapes or scenic views) with description (orally) of how it would look and feel if you were there.

-Interesting information or facts about this Hotspot

______/5Human Population of the region, and any major population centers, such as cities, ports, etc.

______/10plant species-# and % remaining of Endemic plant species and 2 examples with pictures

______/10mammal species-# and % remaining of Endemic mammal species and 2 examples with pictures

______/10bird species-# and % remaining of Endemic bird species and 2 examples with pictures

______/10invertebrate species-# and % remaining of Endemic invertebrates species and 2 examples with pictures

______/5How/Why the habitat has been destroyed? (Be thorough)

______/5Describe conservation efforts, and successes.

______/5citations (at least 5 websites, not including Wikipedia, Ask Jeeves, Yahoo Answers, etc.)

______/5overall creativity; backgrounds & transitions, etc.

Oral Presentation

______/10Both partners

  • presented equally
  • appeared to be well prepared, were knowledgeable and able to answer any questions
  • covered required information for oral presentation.
  • Did not read from slideshow.
  • Spoke clearly to audience.

4 Questions

______/54 big idea questions about your hotspot, turned in on time (1/16)

Total ______/100

-3% printout not included at time of presentation

-2% rubric not included at time of presentation