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Hotspots Around The Globe
Hotspots are Earth's biologically richest and most endangered ecosystems. Although living things can be found on all continents, in every sea, and from pole to pole, biodiversity is not spread equally around the globe.Some areas possess a richer variety of species than others. For instance, at low elevations, species diversity is greater than at high elevations, where temperatures are cooler and the growing season shorter. Areas in which a generous supply of rain encourages the growth of lush vegetation are more diverse than arid locations. In freshwater environments, species diversity tends to decrease as the water gets deeper. Biodiversity also tends to increase as you move from the poles to the equator. The sun shines more in the tropics than it does farther north and south, boosting the productivity of equatorial ecosystems. Tropical climates also tend to be more stable, decreasing the chance of weather-related extinction there. Tropical forests also support a wider variety of habitats than other ecosystems and can therefore host a wider variety of species. Perhaps most importantly, the majority of the world's land mass lies in the tropics.
Conservation International has identified 25 terrestrial biodiversity hotspots, where, along with tropical wilderness areas and key marine regions, it is focusing its conservation efforts. Learn more about hotspots by visiting CI's comprehensive Web site, Biodiversity Hotspots
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