Unit Two Discussion Assignment

Biodiversity hotspots are biogeographic regions characterized both by exceptional levels of

plant endemism and serious levels of habitat loss. Use this map layer to explore all 36
biodiversity hotspots around the world(National Geography, n.d). The biodiversity hotspot
chosen for the discussion assignment is Mediterranean Basin. The Mediterranean Basin
stretches from Cabo Verde in the west to Jordan and Turkey in the east, and from Italy in
the north to Tunisia in the south. It also includes parts of Spain, France, the Balkan States,
Greece, Turkey, and the nations of North Africa and the Middle East, as well as some 5,000
islands scattered around the Mediterranean Sea. West of the mainland, the hotspot
includes a number of Atlantic islands: the Canaries, Madeira, the Selvages, the Azores and
Cabo Verde.

The two most important species that lives in the Mediterranean basin hotspot are as
follows:

Hill Partridge also scientifically known as Arborophila torqueola is a species of bird in

the pheasant family found in Asia. Males of the species have ornate patterns and markings,
a combination of an orange crown and face set against a black head and streaked throat.
Females lack the distinctive head markings and the grey chest and upper belly of the male,
with the flank colouration of white streaked ginger-brown feathers extending further up
and across the belly of the hen.

The Indian cuckoo also scientifically known as Cuculus micropterus is a species of cuckoo
order of birds This is a medium-sized cuckoo with both sexes alike. It has grey upperparts
while the underside has broad black barring. The tail is barred with a broad subterminal
dark band and a white tip. Young birds have white markings on the crown and white chin
and throat contrasting with a dark face. Juveniles are browner and have broad white tips to
the head and wing feathers.

The one endangered species is Russian Sturgeon scientifically known as Acipenser

gueldenstaedtii a species of fish in the family Acipenseridae. It is found in Azerbaijan,
Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Turkmenistan. The fish
can grow up to about 235 cm and weigh 115 kg.

Three interesting facts about Mediterranean Basin hotspot are; The region contains some
of the world’s first and greatest civilizations, and the oldest sovereign state of San Marino,
which dates back to 301 A.D. the region is also reach in atural diversity in the hotspot
(which includes approximately 30,000 plant species), is its cultural, linguistic and socio-
economic diversity
Reference
National Geography, (n.d). MapMaker: Terrestrial Biodiversity Hotspots. Retrieved from
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/terrestrial-biodiversity-hotspots
BirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Arborophila torqueola. Downloaded
from http://www.birdlife.org on 08/02/2023. Recommended citation for factsheets for
more than one species: BirdLife International (2023) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded
from http://www.birdlife.org on 08/02/2023.