BRAINCAKEEndemic Species
An endemic species is one that is found naturally in only one geographical location and nowhere else on Earth. Endemism is the state of being endemic.
Endemism is an important part of biodiversity, alongside species richness. When biologists compare areas for conservation, they consider not only how many species an area has, but also how many of them are endemic. Two areas with the same species richness are not equally valuable if one has many species that exist nowhere else.
The proportion of endemic species is highest in isolated places, where populations have evolved separately for a long time, such as:
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Key terms in this lesson
- species richness
- The number of different species present in a habitat or area.
More in Biodiversity
- Biodiversity
- The Importance of Biodiversity
- Species Richness
- Species Abundance
- Index of Diversity
- Biodiversity of Different Habitats
- Changing Biodiversity
- Allele Frequency
All 22 lessons in Biodiversity · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics