Routledge Biodiversity Hotspot of the Eastern Afromontane

Biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic activities around the world. As a part of the new series Biodiversity Hotspots of the World, which highlights the 36 hotspot regions of the world, this new book covers the Eastern Afromontane, encompassing regions of Africa and Arabia. This series is our humble attempt to document the various hotspots around the world as a conservation and preservation measure. The concise volumes in this series focus on the most interesting and important properties of these hotspots, covering physiography and climatology; vegetation and forest types; amphibian and reptile biodiversity; genetic diversity of crops, plants, fishes, butterflies, insects, birds, mammals, angiosperms, and gymnosperms; and much more. And of course, the unique threats and conservation efforts for the areas are addressed as well. Biodiversity Hotspot of the Eastern Afromontane covers extensive areas in Africa and Arabia, starting from some of its highest peaks and mountain regions to large plateaus. The hotspot is home to a diverse ecosystem of bamboo forests, grasslands, and high-altitude wetlands. It is also home to some of the world most extraordinary lakes, with a thriving marine life featuring a vast amount of freshwater fish diversity. Nearly 1,300 bird species are found in the hotspot, as well as over 500 mammal species. The book first provides an overview of the ecological features of the land, covering its geography, climate, and vegetation. It then goes on to cover diversity in its various lifeforms including lichens, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. It also delves into the diversity of amphibians and mammals residing in the hotspot. The book covers the negative impact of climate change on the hotspot and the subsequent dangers it poses. It also throws light on various other threats to the biodiversity in the region. The book details the various conservation efforts currently taken as well as steps that can be taken to improve these efforts. This volume, Biodiversity Hotspot of the Eastern Afromontane, as well as the other volumes in this series, will be essential resources for researchers and practitioners in the fields of conservation biology, ecology, and evolution as the series concisely records the existing biodiversity of these hotspots of the world.