Which of the following regions of our country is known as a "HotSpot of Biodiversity"?
- (a)Thar Desert
- (b)Western Ghats
- (c)Eastern Ghats
- (d)Deccan Plateau
Correct — B, Western Ghats. The Western Ghats (together with Sri Lanka) is one of the world's recognised biodiversity hotspots — a region with exceptionally high species richness and endemism that has also lost a large share of its original vegetation. Running along India's west coast, it holds hundreds of endemic plant and animal species and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- (a)Thar Desert — An arid desert region with low species richness and endemism — it does not meet the hotspot criteria of exceptional biodiversity under severe threat.
- (c)Eastern Ghats — A discontinuous, drier hill system on India's east coast — ecologically important in patches but not one of India's internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots.
- (d)Deccan Plateau — A vast semi-arid plateau covering peninsular India — not classified as a biodiversity hotspot.
A 'biodiversity hotspot' (a term coined by ecologist Norman Myers) is a region with both exceptional species richness/endemism and severe habitat loss — to qualify, it must hold at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species and have lost 70% or more of its original vegetation. India has four recognised hotspots: the Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Sundaland (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), and the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka.
The trap is picking any large, distinctive, or 'wild-sounding' Indian region (Thar Desert, Deccan Plateau) — hotspot status is a specific technical classification (endemism + threat), not a synonym for 'has lots of wildlife'.
- Western Ghats-Sri Lanka is one of India's four biodiversity hotspots (with Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Sundaland)
- Hotspot criteria (Myers): at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species + loss of 70% or more of original habitat
- The Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Runs along India's west coast, spanning from the Gujarat/Maharashtra border down to Kerala and Tamil Nadu
- Confusing the Eastern Ghats with the Western Ghats — only the Western Ghats is a recognised hotspot
- Assuming any large or 'wild' region (Thar Desert, Deccan Plateau) automatically qualifies as a hotspot
MPPSC/UPSC repeatedly test either 'name India's hotspots' directly or Myers' underlying criteria (endemism, habitat loss).
Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma regions as hotspots of biodiversity: 1. Species richness 2. Vegetation density 3. Endemism 4. Ethno-botanical importance 5. Threat perception 6. Adaptation of flora and fauna to warm and humid conditions Which three of the above are correct criteria in this context?
- (a) 1, 2 and 6
- (b) 2, 4 and 6
- (c) 1, 3 and 5
- (d) 3, 4 and 6
Answer(c) 1, 3 and 5 — species richness, endemism, and threat perception are Myers' hotspot criteria.
Direct UPSC 2011 prelims question testing the same concept — why the Western Ghats is classified as a biodiversity hotspot.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which of the following is NOT one of India's four internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots?
- (a)Himalaya
- (b)Indo-Burma
- (c)Sundaland
- (d)Eastern Ghats
Answer(d) Eastern Ghats — India's four hotspots are Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Sundaland, and Western Ghats-Sri Lanka; the Eastern Ghats is not among them.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The concept of 'biodiversity hotspots' was first proposed by:
- (a)Norman Myers
- (b)Charles Darwin
- (c)E. O. Wilson
- (d)Jane Goodall
Answer(a) Norman Myers, in 1988.