Endemism is the ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation, or habitat type. Species that are endemic are not naturally found anywhere else in the world.
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Endemic species are highly vulnerable to extinction due to their limited range and specialized habitat requirements.
Islands and isolated ecosystems often have high levels of endemism due to geographic isolation.
Human activities such as habitat destruction and climate change pose significant threats to endemic species.
Conservation efforts often prioritize areas with high endemism to preserve unique biodiversity.
The rate of endemism can be an indicator of the evolutionary history and ecological uniqueness of a region.
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Related terms
Biodiversity: The variety and variability of life on Earth, encompassing genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity
Habitat Fragmentation: The process by which large continuous habitats are divided into smaller, isolated sections