Introduction of Endemic plant species
A species is called endemic when it is found only in a partiular geographic location. This means that it is found only at one place and not anywhere else. For instance, lemur is an endemic species to Madagascar or Orange-breasted Sunbird to Fynbos. Physical, climatic conditions and biological factors play a role in endemic plant species. It is therefore a matter of prime importance to safeguard the species that are branded endemic since they are not just rare but also little in number as compared to the rest. Nevertheless, they play an important role in the ecological system and therefore their importance cannot be denied.
Types of endemic plant species
There are mainly two categories - paleoendemic plant species known as Paleoendemism and neoendemc plant species known as Neoendemism. Paleoendemism was widespread on earth but is restricted to a small area. Neoendemism are those that have recently arisen and become reproductively separated or hybridized and are now a separate species. This is a most common process in plants especially those that exhibit polyploidy.
Characterstics of endemic plant species
Endemic plant species typically develop on islands due to geographical isolation. This applies to largely distant island like Socotra or Hawaii. These are also present in areas that are biologically isolated like Ethiopian highlands, or extremely large water bodies such as Lake Baikal.
Endemic plant species are prone to become endangered and even extinct due to the limited habitat and human interference. One such example is Bermuda Petrels and "Bermuda cedars" By the end of the 17th century, the petrels were almost extinct. Cedars, was a discriminated as an endemic plant species by centuries of shipbuilding, they were driven nearly to an extinction in the 20th Century by the introduction of a new parasite. Both are very- very rare today.
A species is called endemic when it is found only in a partiular geographic location. This means that it is found only at one place and not anywhere else. For instance, lemur is an endemic species to Madagascar or Orange-breasted Sunbird to Fynbos. Physical, climatic conditions and biological factors play a role in endemic plant species. It is therefore a matter of prime importance to safeguard the species that are branded endemic since they are not just rare but also little in number as compared to the rest. Nevertheless, they play an important role in the ecological system and therefore their importance cannot be denied.
Types of endemic plant species
There are mainly two categories - paleoendemic plant species known as Paleoendemism and neoendemc plant species known as Neoendemism. Paleoendemism was widespread on earth but is restricted to a small area. Neoendemism are those that have recently arisen and become reproductively separated or hybridized and are now a separate species. This is a most common process in plants especially those that exhibit polyploidy.
Characterstics of endemic plant species
Endemic plant species typically develop on islands due to geographical isolation. This applies to largely distant island like Socotra or Hawaii. These are also present in areas that are biologically isolated like Ethiopian highlands, or extremely large water bodies such as Lake Baikal.
Endemic plant species are prone to become endangered and even extinct due to the limited habitat and human interference. One such example is Bermuda Petrels and "Bermuda cedars" By the end of the 17th century, the petrels were almost extinct. Cedars, was a discriminated as an endemic plant species by centuries of shipbuilding, they were driven nearly to an extinction in the 20th Century by the introduction of a new parasite. Both are very- very rare today.
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