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UPSC Prelims 2010 · Environment · Nature’s Machinery
Consider the following regions: Which of the above is/are Biodiversity Hotspot(s)?
- Eastern Himalayas
- Eastern Mediterranean region
- North-western Australia
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Eastern Himalaya and the Mediterranean Basin are hotspots; north-western Australia is not.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ YES The Eastern Himalaya is part of the Himalaya hotspot.
2. ✓ YES The Mediterranean Basin is a hotspot, including its eastern part.
3. ✗ NO Australia’s hotspots are South-West Australia and the Forests of East Australia — not the north-west.
The idea
Outside the tropics, some hotspots follow one pattern: the five regions of the world with a Mediterranean climate (dry summer, wet winter) are all hotspots, because their plants evolved in isolation. In Australia that climate is in the south-west corner, around Perth, not the north-west.
Mediterranean Basin → California → Central Chile → Cape region of South Africa → South-West Australia
The trap
You remember “Australia has a hotspot”. The corner is the test.
Also know
North-western Australia is hot desert and tropical savannah. Australia’s second hotspot is the forests of its east coast.
🔒 Australia: South-West Australia + Forests of East Australia are hotspots — not the north-west.