How did biodiversity come about?

Today in class we talked about how evolution has contributed to biodiversity. The formation of new species is called speciation and this occurs through EVOLUTION. Natural Selection is a mechanism for evolution as we discussed. Check out this website for more explanations on speciation.

Biodiversity Hotspots

Here's a bit more about biodiversity hotspots- Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are located in what the call the Easter Afromontane hotspots. Also, it the website states the exact definition of a hot spot which includes species abundance and presence of endemic species as we discussed, but also note that the area will be considered a hot spot if it has lost at least 70% of its habitat. Check out more on this website about hotpot statistics, an interactive map, and conservation efforts.

EIA's for Lamu and London Olympics

Our discussion in class this past Thursday and Friday was all about Environmental Impact Assessments. There are 2 developments coming up quickly that require such documents to provide evidence that they are going to have as little impact as possible on the social, environmental, and economic factors in their respective areas.



The London 2012 Olympics has produced their EIAs and they are available online through a simple search


Did you know.... The Lamu port is proceeding with construction without having an EIA completed?

Why do you think this is the case and is it ethical?

Environmental Impact Assessments

Environmental Impact Assessment

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Discovering new organisms- through Taxonomy!

They aren't worms or even snakes. They're soil-burrowing, limbless amphibians, and they're completely new to science, a new study suggests. Read more on National Geographic



Match-tip tiny, Brookesia micra (juvenile pictured) is the smallest of four new chameleon species found on the African island country of Madagascar. With an average adult length of just over an inch (2.9 centimeters) from snout to tail, B. micra is among the tiniest reptiles in the world. Read more here



Discovered on an island off the coast of Madagascar, the newfound plant grows up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) high and blooms once a year with a "really foul" stench, according to discoverer Greg Wahlert, a postdoctoral researcher in botany at the University of Utah. Read more here