The tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot spans 1,542,664 square kilometers across western South America. It contains the world's richest flora, with over 30,000 plant species, 15,000 of which are endemic to the region. The tropical Andes also have the highest levels of endemism for amphibians, with 673 of 981 species being found nowhere else. However, the region faces numerous threats to its biodiversity, including mining, oil exploration, urban growth, and climate change.
2. tropical andes
one of the most diverse and rich regions on earth
around 7% of vascular plants are endemic to the
tropical andes
largest variety of amphibians in the world-664 species
plant diversity is greater here than any other hotspot
world leader in plant endemism of species found
nowhere else on earth
3. tropical andes cont.
spans 1,542,664 km2
world’s richest flora
puna and parámo grasslands go from cloud forests to
the snow line- very diverse and contatinting around
800 species
snowcapped peaks, steep slopes, deep canyons,
isolated valleys
4. tropical andes hotspot
0.8 % of earth’s land is represented by this hotspot
west-extends down to an elevation of 1,000 meters
east-reaches down to 500 meters in elevation
contains deepest gorge in the world
3,223 meter deep canyon
5. plants
30,000 to 35,000 species of vascular plants (10% of all
species)
unique species is the andean bromeliad-takes 100 yrs
to mature
andean bromelilad
parajubaea- biggest palm on earth
podocarpus
