Biodiversity hot spots

Based on the rate at which novel microorganisms are being discovered, one can make an estimation of the amount of different organisms that have been identified up to now relative those that remain uncharacterized (Table 5.8). The overwhelming biochemical diversity present in nature makes that the isolation of microorganisms with novel enzymatic activities is worthwhile (reviewed in Bull, Goodfellow Howard Slater, 1992). Preferred sites to find novel enzymes include so-called mega-diversity countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Brazil or India and biodiversity hot spots like rain forest and deep seas. 

Great concern should be expressed about the continuing erosion of tropical rain forest species, which is accelerating as the twenty-first century begins (22). Approximately 25 hot spots of especially high biodiversity have been proposed that represent 44% of all vascular plant species and 35% of all species of vertebrates in approximately 1.4% of the earth s surface (23). At present, many of the endemic (or native) species to these biodiversity hot spot areas have been reported to be undergoing massive habitat loss and are threatened with extinction, especially in tropical regions (22,23). 

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