Question

Define endemism. Name any two regions of accelerated habitat loss in India.

Answer 1

The term endemism means native. In addition to it, it is a state of species that are native only to a defined region and are not found anywhere else. An area rich in diversity shows endemism. habitat loss refers to the animals losing their natural shelter due to various reasons.

Complete step by step answer: The word endemism is derived from the New Latin word endemic which means native. The ecological state of species that are native and defined to a particular geographical location is called endemism. The plants and animal species which are confined to a particular location in a specific habitat and are not found anywhere. Such species that are native to a particular region or habitat are called endemic species. An area rich in high species diversity has high endemism. These areas rich in high diversity are always under constant threat. This threat is referred to as a hotspot. If the already restricted habitat of endemic species changes due to human activity then these species can easily become endangered and extinct. For example, due to the human settlement on the island of Mauritius a flightless bird species dodo which was endemic to that region became extinct. Habitat loss is a result of the hotspot that is the region with rich diversity species that are always under constant threat. The Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas are the regions in India where the accelerated loss of habitat can be seen.

Note: Agriculture, urban growth, surface mining, mineral extraction, logging operations, and slash and burn agriculture are the principal cause of habitat degradation and loss in ecosystems with high rates of endemism.