10 Questions
What does the term 'biodiversity' refer to?
The enormous variety of life on Earth
How many estimated species of plants and animals are there in existence?
Around 8.7 million
What are areas with extremely high levels of biodiversity called?
Hotspots
What are endemic species?
Species found only in one particular location
Name some areas with high biodiversity.
Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, southwestern United States, Madagascar
What are the two criteria outlined by Norman Myers to qualify an area as a biodiversity hotspot?
At least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species and having lost at least 70% of its original surface area
As of 2022, how many official biodiversity hotspots are recognized worldwide?
36
What percentage of Earth's known endemic mammals, reptiles, and bird species are found in biodiversity hotspots?
Nearly 43%
How many humans are estimated to reside in biodiversity hotspots?
Around two billion
What are vascular plants, and why are they significant in defining biodiversity hotspots?
Vascular plants have tissues arranged in unique patterns for fluid transport, and they help identify unique plant species in hotspots.
Learn about the vast variety of life on Earth, from plants and animals to bacteria and humans. Explore how biodiversity can be specific to a region or ecosystem, and discover the estimated number of species existing on the planet. Dive into the importance and challenges of documenting and preserving biodiversity.
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