Page 213 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

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Biodiversity Hotspots

Many people have heard of biodiversity hotspots,
TYPES OF HOTSPOTS
particularly in the context of documentaries about
ocean life. These sites are very popular with filmmakers
for the variety of life they exhibit. However, the term
is a slight misnomer. Strictly speaking, such sites are
“species diversity hotspots,” places where the largest
number of species are concentrated in a small area.
Identifying such hotspots helps conservationists to
decide where protected areas should be set up.
However, places where species diversity is low, such
as the ocean trenches, are also important because of LOCH CARRON The
northwest Highlands of
the remarkable animals that live there.
Scotland may be scenic, but
The problem is that too little is known about the very little biodiversity is found
in the harsh, rocky landscape
deep ocean for scientists to be sure where the highest
that surrounds Loch Carron.
species diversity occurs beyond the shallow layer
accessible to human divers. However, worldwide BENEATH THE SURFACE
assessments have been made of the distribution and HIDDEN HOTSPOT Underwater, however, Loch
richness of coral reefs (see p.152 and below), seagrass Carron is as full of life as any
tropical coral reef. Animals
beds (see p.146), and mangrove swamps (see p.130). include soft corals, dahlia
Hot spots where there are many different species of anemones, and brittlestars.
sea turtles, sharks, and open-ocean fish have been found
SABA BANK A 2006 survey of
near islands, sea mounts, and shelf breaks. A major ten- this atoll in the Caribbean
year project called the World Ocean Census, completed Netherlands found a high species
biodiversity. The area was
in 2010, collected a huge amount of new data on where declared a national park in 2012.
species live in the ocean. Many thousands of new
species were documented, and the work of describing NEW TO SCIENCE The Saba
Bank study discovered a
these is ongoing. Marine scientists from more than 80 CARIBBEAN TREASURE CHEST seven-spined goby living on the
countries took part, and many new hot spots were seabed. It is a new species, and
probably a new genus.
found, including several important sea mounts.

Coral Reef Hotspots
Tropical coral reefs are popular with divers because they are
colorful, shallow and mostly easy to reach. Both with scientists FISH HAVEN Soldierfish
and with many recreational divers involved in collecting data as and snappers gather at
part of worldwide projects such as Reef Check, we know far a seamount in the Indian
more about life on coral reefs than many other ocean habitats. Ocean. The upwelling of
A study in 2002 pinpointed 18 coral reef hotspots (shown in nutrient-rich currents around
red below). These sites cover 35 percent of the world’s total coral seamounts makes them
reef area but are home to more than 60 percent of rare and “oases” of the ocean.
localized reef species, so they are a high conservation priority.
An area called the Coral Triangle (outlined in the map
SEAMOUNT COMMUNITIES Up to a third of species of
below) stretches from the Philippines in the north, to Malaysia,
Indonesia, and Timor Leste in the south and west to Papua
New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. This giant hot spot
supports 600 species of reef-building corals and more than
2000 species of reef fish. GUADALUPE SEAMOUNT

ARCTIC OCEAN seaweed, plants, and animals
on isolated seamounts may
be unique (or endemic) to that
over millions of years.
ATLANTIC seamount, having evolved there
OCEAN
PACIFIC OCEAN SAMPLING SEDIMENTS
Mud cores collected from
BURIED RICHES sea sediment was once
INDIAN the seabed can contain
thousands of species of
OCEAN microorganisms. Deep- OCEAN LIFE
SOUTHERN OCEAN thought to be like a
abundance of rare and other coral reef areas Coral desert but this hidden
biodiversity proves otherwise.
endemic species Triangle