1. Potential conflicts
I am going to assign you all a role, you must look up what your opinions on the ANWR development would be
You will then have to talk to other people and complete your conflict matrix
You can use pages to help

2. Complete a conflict matrix of the various views
Politicians
Arctic Power
Alaskan Residents
Inupiats
Gwich’in
Environmental Groups
Environmental Group

3. Biodiversity distribution
BIODIVERSITY UNDER THREAT
Learning intention:
To understand the distribution of biodiversity and what a hotspot is

4. What does this map tell us about the global distribution of biodiversity? What is the link?

5. Is this surprising?

6. Global variations in biodiversity
It is not surprising that new species have been discovered in the tropical rainforests of Papua New Guinea because biodiversity is greatest in the tropics and declines as you move towards the poles
70% of the world’s species is found in just 12 countries

7. Determining factors
What factors determine the distribution of biodiversity?
Climate
Endemism
Human activity

8. Global variations in biodiversity
Tropical rainforests contain over 50% of the world’s species in just over 7% of the world’s land area
80% of all insects
90% of all primates
Brazil, Indonesia and Madagascar contain over 55% if the world’s mammals
Tropical America has about species of flowering plants, compared with about in Europe

9. Global variations in biodiversity
Biodiversity is low where there are climatic extremes
Biodiversity is greatest in the tropics
Biodiversity is generally greatest in the southern hemisphere

10. What makes a hotspot?
I would like you to discuss what you think the term ‘biodiversity hotspot’ means
What criteria makes a hotspot?

11. Level of threat to species
Hotspot criteria
1. Species richness
2. Number of endemic species
3. Number of species at risk
Species richness
Endemic richness
Level of threat to species

12. Biodiversity hotspot
A biodiversity hotspot is an area containing a huge number of species, a large percentage of which are endemic. Hotspots have been described as ‘the most remarkable places on Earth and the most threatened’. They cover less than 2% of the Earth’s surface yet they contain 44% of the world’s plant species and 35% of its animal species.

13. Biodiversity hotspots
Initially 25 terrestrial hotspots, recently updated to include marine reserves so there are now 34
Terrestrial hotspots cover 1.4% of the earth’s surface, but contain 44% of the world’s plants and 35% of the world’s animal species
Marine hotspots are essentially coral reef areas in the tropics
Terrestrial and marine hotspots are often adjacent to each other

14. Biodiversity hotspots
The location of hotspots does not correlate exactly with the location of greatest biodiversity, e.g. France
Tropical distribution of both types of hotspot is due to an absence of limiting factors, which allow maximum primary productivity
NET PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY – rate at which all the plants in an ecosystem produce net useful chemical energy (how quick plants grow)

15. What makes a hotspot
Using the information provide I would like you to complete a case study about your hotspot
You will then have to share this with others

16. Advantages of hotspots
Has ensured that the ‘best bits’- areas with the highest levels of biodiversity, substantial levels of endemism (unique/rare species) are conserved and protected.
Areas under threat are commonly in the tropics and in developing countries where conservation costs are much lower (cheap labour) – idea of value for money.
Hotspots now covers marine area under threats in addition to terrestrial ecosystems

17. Disadvantages of hotspots
Even with the additions of marine hotspots under 2% of the earth and 0.017% of oceans are protected by this approach
The distribution of areas protected is very uneven. Most hotspots lie in the tropics e.g. rainforests. Many ecosystems such as Tundra, Taiga and Temperate Forest are not included.
Huge areas of the world are not covered including many areas under great threat e.g. Arctic Ocean, or many outstanding smaller regions such as Galapagos . These are not protected because they do not meet all three criteria to be a hot spot. Polar bears subsequently face extinction.
Hotspots tend to follows protectionist approach. This entails removing people and their activities from areas under threat. This has occurred in tropical countries where indigenous people have been forced off their land in favour of creating big reserves.

18. Exam Question
A) explain the distribution of the world’s terrestrial and marine hotspots in the fig. below. (10)